UPDATE: I have no association with Susan Thixton of Truth About Pet Food, either personally of professionally, or the Association for Truth in Pet Food.

Yesterday Susan Thixton and I were honored to be asked by Dr. Daniel McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, on behalf of the Association for Truth in Pet Food, to attend a telephone conference held for stakeholders to address the FDA new proposed animal feed requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Milestones

For the first time in history, the FDA has written proposed rules to regulate the safety of animal food much in the same way that they regulate human food.

And it is the first time in history they asked pet food safety advocates for their input. These two ‘firsts’ are a hopeful signal that the FDA is moving in the right direction. We don’t expect miracles, but at least we are being asked to sit at the table with the policymakers at FDA. And I am pleased to say that our comments were heard, understood, and appreciated.

On a personal note, it is amazing to me that one of the most important offices in the government told me that my comments were valuable and will be taken under consideration. It was a ‘pinch me, am I dreaming’ moment for a pet food safety advocate.

A noble goal

For the first time, the FDA is proposing a new set of protections for the production of animal foods, including the food pet parents give their companion animals and feed that farmers give their livestock. The goal: To keep all animal foods from being contaminated.

The proposal is one of seven key pillars of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act, an initiative designed to improve human and animal food safety and reduce foodborne illnesses by giving the FDA greater power to intervene before an outbreak occurs.

Dr. Dan explains

Dr. Daniel McChesney explains that this rule proposes establishing a whole new set of protections for animal foods. Currently, the agency primarily gets involved when there is evidence after the contaminated animal food product is already on the market.

“Unlike safeguards already in place to protect human foods, there are currently no regulations governing the safe production of most animal foods. There is no type of hazard analysis. This rule would change all that,” said Daniel McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Industry frets

Not surprisingly, industry is in an uproar over the proposed rules and will, no doubt, fight tooth and nail to protect the shoddy status quo. “These rules will have a major impact on our members,” fretted Richard Sellers, vice president of feed regulation and nutrition with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), who also spoke on behalf of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).

You have a voice

Susan and I are simply representatives of pet food consumers, and while we do our darndest to have your voice heard, it is important that they hear from consumers as well. Once the proposed rules are published in the Federal Register on Monday, you can comment on them, because we know the industry will. As the AFIA and the NGFA have said, they will leave “extensive public comments” on the rules and we need you to add your voice to the comments. The proposed rule will be published on Oct. 29 in the Federal Register and there will be a 120-day comment period. I urge you to use this valuable opportunity to have your voice heard.

• FDA Moves to Keep Foods Safe for Animals
• FSMA Proposed Rule to Establish Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals
• FDA Voice: Keeping Animal Foods Safe
• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)