Solid Gold Pet donates US$500,000 in premium petfood

Solid Gold Pet has partnered with Petco to donate an estimated US$500,000 of premium petfood to selected charities across the US. The partnership kicked off at the beginning of January 2015.

"We strongly believe in the benefits of good pet nutrition for all pets and are proud to partner with a leading specialty pet retailer like Petco to help make a difference to dogs and cats in need," said Michelle Higdon, CEO of Solid Gold Pet. "We know that great nutrition makes all of the difference in the world to a pet's quality of life. We call this bringing out their Inner Gold." 

FDA warns Nestle Purina plant about 'significant violations'

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to a Nestle Purina PetCare manufacturing facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania, after an inspection in September 2014 revealed "significant deviations from the LACF (acidified and low-acid canned foods) regulations, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 108 and 113 (21 CFR Parts 108 and 113)."

Violations include:

• failure to process each low-acid canned food in conformity with at least the scheduled process filed with FDA
• failure to identify, from a processor chack or otherwise, deviations from the scheduled process of critical factors which are out of control and failure to record these deviations in a separate log
• failure to chlorinate or otherwise sanitize cooling water as necessary for cooling canals and recirculated water supplies
• failure to establish a system for product traffic control in the retort room to prevent un-retorted product from bypassing the retort process
• failure to install the mercury-in-glass thermometers in a location where they can be accurately and easily read
• failure to have records of all processing and production signed or initialed by a representative of plant management who is qualified by suitable training or experience
Keith Schopp, a spokesman for Nestle Purina, said the company is confident there are no food safety issues or risks to pet health with the company's products. Schopp said officials are in the process of providing FDA with measures it intends to take to correct the production errors.
The FDA said it requires a written response addressing the alleged violations, and that "failure to take appropriate corrective action may subject your firm and products to further actions, such as emergency permit control, injunction or seizure."

University of Saskatchewan developing petfood using pulse crops

University of Saskatchewan researchers are working on a dog food made from pulse crops to determine whether pulses are beneficial to the health of pets.

The three-year project has received US$172,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, which will go towards a high-resolution ultrasound microscope. The microscope will examine the effects of pulse crop-based diets on the cardiovascular and reproductive health of pets, according to reports. "It seems early results are that it really is beneficial, but this machine will really allow us to really confirm that," said Lynn Weber, of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
The petfood will be developed from chickpeas, beans and lentils. 

PET South America 2014 event drew more than 24,000 visitors

PET South America's 13th annual event drew 24,117 visitors from October 28-30, 2014, including veterinarians, zoo technicians, breeders, pet shop owners and groomers. About 350 Brazilian and international brands exhibited in the areas of petfood, hygiene, beauty, animal health and accessories.  
Thematic pavillions included the Acqua Ecosystem Pavilion, which offered lectures and product presentations in the fields of aquarism, as well as lake and aquatic landscape design. The Paulista Veterinary Specialties Congress drew 1,537 attendees from several veterinary segments, and the Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine of the State of São Paulo offered free lectures. Other simultaneous events rated highly by participants were the 10th Management and Marketing Seminar and the first Meeting of Animal Behavior Therapists, which debuted at the 2014 event.
"PET South America again confirmed its position as a benchmark in the pet and veterinary market in Brazil, drawing a highly qualified audience and promoting businesses and congresses that add value to the field of veterinary medicine and the development of this important sector for the country," said Laura Snitovsky, development manager for NürnbergMesse Brasil, the event organizer.

China denies link between US pet sickness, Chinese treats

Pet treats made in China have no connection to pet illnesses in the US, according to China's top quality supervisor, who said there has been no direct evidence found to link the two.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said tests—conducted by it and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—had not confirmed any connection and had not detected any poisonous or hazardous ingredients in the treats, despite allegations that they were the cause of widespread illness and death in US pets. The AQSIQ didn't specify which brands or treats were under investigation.
The statement came after US pet specialty retailer Petco announced in early January 2015 that it was pulling all pet treats made in China from its 1,300 stores because of concerns they had caused sickness in thousands of pets and killed more than 1,000 dogs in the US since 2007. PetSmart Inc. also plans to remove the treats from its stores by March 2015.
China will closely follow events and hopes the parties concerned can remain objective and rational, said the AQSIQ in a statement. 

Petfood community reacts to recent consumer-funded testing

Recent consumer-funded petfood testing coordinated by the Association for Truth in Pet Food has drawn responses from the petfood industry, which is questioning the methods used and the relevance of the results.

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) released a statement outlining the testing each product undergoes before it reaches the shelves, and said that simple test results don't provide the complete safety picture. "Petfood ingredients and products undergo rigorous testing by petfood companies, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and state regulators to ensure safety, quality and appropriate levels of nutrition," said PFI. "The test results by themselves do not provide sufficient information to appropriately draw conclusions. Additional information is needed, such as the sampling method and laboratory materials used, measures taken to prevent contamination of samples, analytical methods employed, and test controls in place."
According to PFI, the testing results actually reaffirm the record of safety in petfood:

• Mycotoxins detected were well below the levels set by FDA and were essentially at background levels.
• Nutrient levels overall were consistent with the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profiles. Variation from the AAFCO nutrient profiles can be validated by conducting a feeding protocol using a particular cat or dog food product. Therapeutic products are fed under the direction and oversight of a veterinarian and may be designed to vary from the AAFCO nutrient profiles as part of the approach to addressing a particular health condition.
• The findings reported do not identify any bacterial species associated with foodborne illness or food spoilage.
• The most common foodborne pathogens were not detected in the test results, again validating the safety of the products tested.
Phyllis Entis, MSc., SM(NRCM), an author and food safety microbiologist, said the consumer-funded testing focused on all the wrong things. "What I find 'shocking and sad' is the waste of consumers' money in a wild goose chase after low-level pathogens of minimal risk to either humans or their pets," she said, in a post on FoodSafetyNews.com. Entis asked why the petfood samples weren't tested for known animal and human pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, and said that without providing species-level identification of bacteria, the results were useless.
"I acknowledge the good intentions of Susan Thixton and the Association for Truth in Pet Food, but I am appalled at the way in which this study was designed and carried out," said Entis. "The portions of the study relating to bacterial analysis and presentation of the mycotoxin results are the epitome of junk science. The pet-loving consumers who funded this study—and their dogs and cats—deserved far better."
In response, Thixton said the study is in no way "junk science," listing the scientists who oversaw the project and providing a bio of INTI Service Corp., the company the scientists work for. She also defended the pathogens tested and the information in the report. "The information provided in the full report was quoted from FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations," said Thixton. "I am by no means a scientist, so I relied on information from these well-known organizations to provide risk information to consumers."

RECALL: J.J. Fuds recalls petfood on Listeria concerns

Indiana-based J.J. Fuds is recalling a select lot and product of J.J. Fuds Chicken Tender Chunks Pet Food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled product was distributed regionally in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois to wholesale and retail customers. The product can be identified by the batch ID code and UPC code printed on the back of the individual plastic bag or on the master case label. This product is a frozen raw poultry product and has a shelf life of one year if kept frozen.
The recalled product is as follows:
J. J. Fuds Premium Natural Blends, Chicken Tender Chunks
All 5 lb. bags with:
Product UPC Number: 654592-345935
Manufacture/Lot Code Date: 5/5/14
The recall was a result of a routine sampling program by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development resulting in a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes. The company has not received any reports of dogs experiencing nausea or diarrhea that may be associated with these specific products. The company has received no reports of human illness as a result of these products.
J.J. Fuds will immediately start working with distributors and retailers to properly dispose of any affected product left on freezer shelves. The company will also be working with distributors and retailers to recall this product from pet owners to ensure the proper disposal of any affected product that has been purchased. The company is issuing this action out of an abundance of caution and sincerely regrets any inconvenience to pet owners as a result of this announcement.
The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners who have the affected product at home should return to retailer for a refund and proper disposal.