The Food & Drug Administration has confirmed that Iowa eggs associated with the recent massive recall will be pasteurized and processed for use in other products, including pet food. The media is already hyping it up with headlines like "Iowa firms will pasteurize possibly tainted eggs for use in cookies, pet food".
You can bet that pet parents are going to be hyped too - the bloggers are screaming foul as we speak. Patricia Y. Hester, a professor of animal sciences at Purdue University, said "There's a possibility that consumers could overreact and consider them not safe when they really are. There could be a public perception problem. There usually is.
"Are you ready for their questions? This needs to be tackled quickly, thoroughly, and honestly, and it could actually work in your favor if it's done properly. I'll help you get started.The first order of the day - research. Find out everything you can about processed eggs and the pasteurization process. Start collecting studies - you'll need to refer pet parents to reputable, independent sources of information.
There are three possible scenarios here for those who use processed eggs in their products:
Scenario one: Your egg product supplier uses eggs from the farms in question.
Scenario two: You use egg products, but your egg product supplier doesn't source them from the farms in question.
Scenario three: You have no idea where your egg products come from.The easiest and safest resolution to scenario one would be to stop using egg products that originated with these Iowa farms - NOW.
Cut your losses and don't use your inventory. Quite often the effort involved in defending yourself is more costly and damaging than change (as many concluded when pet parents were concerned about ethoxyquin), even when you're right. Don't worry, the gains from the increased consumer trust will balance any losses, because you're immediately going to use it in your marketing. If you insist on continuing to use these eggs, put together a brilliant information package about why you are 100% certain that the pasteurization process makes them safe.
Of course, pet food is also reprocessed at high temperatures, but that could beget other concerns so you may want to be careful with that point. Don't make the mistake of thinking that scenario two will exempt you from suspicion - be ready to name the origins of your egg products, including the name of your supplier and what procedures they implement to ensure safety.
Scenario three is probably the worst scenario to be in. "I don't know" is going to drown you on so many levels that you may never surface. You'll need to contact your manufacturer and/or supplier to obtain this information, then proceed accordingly.In all scenarios, issue a statement on your website, link to it via social media, direct people to the information in your automatic phone recordings, arm your frontline customer support staff, etc. - get the word out there before you have egg on your face.
You may want to use the FDA page as a guideline when developing your own egg info. package.It doesn't matter if these eggs are pasteurized and safe, the farms have lost consumer trust and that is going to reflect upon you and your product if you don't act. Get cracking!
Sources:US Food & Drug Administration (FDA)MSNBC, 'Eggs from suspect farms will be processed, sold'. Accessed 8/25/2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
RECALL: P&G recalls Iams cat food in Colo.
P&G Sunday recalled a small number of Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food bags, which were recently sold in one or two Loveland, Colorado, stores because of Salmonella concerns.
The recall currently is limited to Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care cat food sold in blue 6.8-pound bags, with a code date of 02304173 (B1-B6), and a UPC number of 1901403921.
Pet owners who purchased the recalled cat food should discard it and contact P&G at 800-862-3332 for a replacement product.
The recall currently is limited to Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care cat food sold in blue 6.8-pound bags, with a code date of 02304173 (B1-B6), and a UPC number of 1901403921.
Pet owners who purchased the recalled cat food should discard it and contact P&G at 800-862-3332 for a replacement product.
FDA official to be keynote speaker at Feed, Pet Food Conference
Michael Taylor, the deputy commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be the keynote speaker at the Feed and Pet Food Joint Industries Conference.
Taylor will speak on FDA's plans to implement a preventative and risk-based approach to petfood and feed safety. The focus will specifically be on how such changes will affect manufacturers and their suppliers. Other speakers include Dan McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine and Kent Kitade, president of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Taylor will speak on FDA's plans to implement a preventative and risk-based approach to petfood and feed safety. The focus will specifically be on how such changes will affect manufacturers and their suppliers. Other speakers include Dan McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine and Kent Kitade, president of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Monday, August 30, 2010
2011 Victam International event combines three shows in one event
The 2011 Victam International event will feature three, co-located shows in one event. The exhibition includes the Victam International event for animal feed processing and biomass pelleting; FIAAP International event for animal feed ingredients, additives and formulation; and GRAPAS International event for flour milling, grain processing and pasta production.
The event will be held May 3-5, 2011 at the Cologne Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany. Event attendees will be able to visit all three exhibitions with one ticket.
Petfood Forum Europe 2011 will also take place during the event, on May 4. A series of other technical conferences and workshops will also be held, including the International Research Association of Feed Technology (IFF) Feed Processing Conference, organized by IFF; the Biomass Conference, organized by the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM); FIAAP Conference, organized by Linx Conferences; GRAPAS Conference, organized by Linx Conferences; Aquafeed Horizons, organized by Linx Conferences; and Feed Safety Assurance in a Globalizing Industry, organized by GMP+International.
The event will be held May 3-5, 2011 at the Cologne Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany. Event attendees will be able to visit all three exhibitions with one ticket.
Petfood Forum Europe 2011 will also take place during the event, on May 4. A series of other technical conferences and workshops will also be held, including the International Research Association of Feed Technology (IFF) Feed Processing Conference, organized by IFF; the Biomass Conference, organized by the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM); FIAAP Conference, organized by Linx Conferences; GRAPAS Conference, organized by Linx Conferences; Aquafeed Horizons, organized by Linx Conferences; and Feed Safety Assurance in a Globalizing Industry, organized by GMP+International.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Petfood part of a world 'going green'
Sustainability. Eco-friendly. Green. All buzzwords used -- though not consistently or backed by any common definitions or standards -- to describe products and practices that are supposedly kinder to the environment and, some believe, the health of humans and animals (including pets).
Yesterday AdAge.com announced that the US Federal Trade Commission will likely be releasing new "Green Guides" very soon to at least direct, if not regulate, how companies use marketing and packaging claims related to sustainability and environmental impact.
These new guidelines may help establish some standards and common definitions, at least in the US, which could go a long way in helping consumers sort through such green claims. Because if one thing is certain, it's that consumers (and probably most marketers) could really use some clarification.
In "World Gone Green," an article in the August issue of Food Technology (published by the Institute of Food Technologists, or IFT), Krista Faron of Mintel breaks down the latest research on what US consumers think about sustainability. Much of this research applies to consumer packaged goods, including petfood.
Some highlights:
Self-reported "green" purchasing behavior has changed dramatically just since 2006 and through 2007, though it has plateaued since. Just four years ago, 12% of consumers surveyed by Mintel were labeled as "True Greens": people who regularly purchased green products. By end of 2007, that figure had more than doubled, to 27%.
Mintel forecasts sales of natural and organic foods and beverages in mass retailers excluding Walmart and natural channels to increase 4.8% this year and 6.1% in 2011. (For natural and organic petfood data, see the latest research from Packaged Facts.)
That's the good news. The bad news, Faron says, is the high point for sustainability appears to have passed, at least in terms of spending patterns.
Much of the article discusses green marketing and labeling claims and just how confusing or even invisible these are to consumers. Faron argues that perhaps better visibility, awareness and definition of claims could have an influence on spending patterns and purchasing behavior.
The other point that stands out is that price is still a huge factor in whether consumers will respond to green claims and actually buy the products. This is especially true during tough economic times but appears to have always been the case: Like petfood, green products overall seem fairly recession-proof. Mintel's research shows green purchasing behavior has remained "remarkably similar in the boom times of late 2007, recessionary climate of October 2008 and January 2010 and, most recently, in June 2010," Faron writes.
Yesterday AdAge.com announced that the US Federal Trade Commission will likely be releasing new "Green Guides" very soon to at least direct, if not regulate, how companies use marketing and packaging claims related to sustainability and environmental impact.
These new guidelines may help establish some standards and common definitions, at least in the US, which could go a long way in helping consumers sort through such green claims. Because if one thing is certain, it's that consumers (and probably most marketers) could really use some clarification.
In "World Gone Green," an article in the August issue of Food Technology (published by the Institute of Food Technologists, or IFT), Krista Faron of Mintel breaks down the latest research on what US consumers think about sustainability. Much of this research applies to consumer packaged goods, including petfood.
Some highlights:
Self-reported "green" purchasing behavior has changed dramatically just since 2006 and through 2007, though it has plateaued since. Just four years ago, 12% of consumers surveyed by Mintel were labeled as "True Greens": people who regularly purchased green products. By end of 2007, that figure had more than doubled, to 27%.
Mintel forecasts sales of natural and organic foods and beverages in mass retailers excluding Walmart and natural channels to increase 4.8% this year and 6.1% in 2011. (For natural and organic petfood data, see the latest research from Packaged Facts.)
That's the good news. The bad news, Faron says, is the high point for sustainability appears to have passed, at least in terms of spending patterns.
Much of the article discusses green marketing and labeling claims and just how confusing or even invisible these are to consumers. Faron argues that perhaps better visibility, awareness and definition of claims could have an influence on spending patterns and purchasing behavior.
The other point that stands out is that price is still a huge factor in whether consumers will respond to green claims and actually buy the products. This is especially true during tough economic times but appears to have always been the case: Like petfood, green products overall seem fairly recession-proof. Mintel's research shows green purchasing behavior has remained "remarkably similar in the boom times of late 2007, recessionary climate of October 2008 and January 2010 and, most recently, in June 2010," Faron writes.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
US bipartisan committee reaches compromise on food safety
A US Senate bipartisan committee reached a compromise on the groundwork of a new food safety bill that sets the stage for the full Senate to fill in the details later this year.
The bill would give the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to order a food recall, as opposed to just requesting one. FDA is also looking to increase the frequency of inspections at processing plants and other facilities. And, in a move possibly linked to the 2007 melamine contamination of dog and cat food that sickened and killed thousands of pets, the bill includes the stipulation that importers must verify the safety of their foreign suppliers, and businesses that manufacture and process food must have plans in place to prevent adulteration.
No date for a full Senate vote has been set.
The bill would give the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to order a food recall, as opposed to just requesting one. FDA is also looking to increase the frequency of inspections at processing plants and other facilities. And, in a move possibly linked to the 2007 melamine contamination of dog and cat food that sickened and killed thousands of pets, the bill includes the stipulation that importers must verify the safety of their foreign suppliers, and businesses that manufacture and process food must have plans in place to prevent adulteration.
No date for a full Senate vote has been set.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Is the economy creating a black market for petfood?
A remarkable story out of northern Arizona--and unfortunately, I don't mean "remarkable" in a good way. Two men were reported stealing petfood from a charity: enough cat, dog and puppy food to have fed the pets of 1,000 needy families.
The food had been donated by Nestle Purina to Angel's Corner, an organization in Williams, Arizona, USA, that delivers food boxes--including petfood--to battered woman and people who have lost their homes. The organization also has a shelter, and its director, Gail Dent, had let two homeless men stay there over the weekend of August 1 in exchange for watching the food and complex. Instead, they took off with all the petfood, worth US$39,000.
Beyond all the truly sad implications of this story, I can't help wondering what the men planned to do with that much petfood. It's difficult to believe they had their own altruistic intentions or know that many other homeless people with pets. Were they desperate enough to consider it sustenance for themselves?
Or, did they see this as a way to make money and support themselves--and if so, where would they sell that much petfood? Has a black market for petfood and similar products sprung up as so many people in the US continue to struggle to make ends meet?
Let's hope this is just one isolated, bizarre incident. And that petfood companies keep donating their products to animal organizations and pet owners who so desperately need them.
The food had been donated by Nestle Purina to Angel's Corner, an organization in Williams, Arizona, USA, that delivers food boxes--including petfood--to battered woman and people who have lost their homes. The organization also has a shelter, and its director, Gail Dent, had let two homeless men stay there over the weekend of August 1 in exchange for watching the food and complex. Instead, they took off with all the petfood, worth US$39,000.
Beyond all the truly sad implications of this story, I can't help wondering what the men planned to do with that much petfood. It's difficult to believe they had their own altruistic intentions or know that many other homeless people with pets. Were they desperate enough to consider it sustenance for themselves?
Or, did they see this as a way to make money and support themselves--and if so, where would they sell that much petfood? Has a black market for petfood and similar products sprung up as so many people in the US continue to struggle to make ends meet?
Let's hope this is just one isolated, bizarre incident. And that petfood companies keep donating their products to animal organizations and pet owners who so desperately need them.
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