Pet Food Fallout: 6 Steps for Safety

When Kids Discover Pets

by Larry Kay & Lauren Wygant

The pet food recall has become a crisis. Contaminated pet food has killed more than 2,000 and possibly as many as 7,000 dogs and cats this year, and injured more than 40,000. Countless families are scrambling to find safe alternatives while checking a recall list that has expanded to more than 350 pet food products.

Fortunately, there is political agreement to act quickly. The United States Senate unanimously passed an amendment calling for stricter food safety requirements, and there seems to be no strong opposition to quick action. Most pet food companies are cooperating fully with the recall and are developing alternate food sources.

Let's review what happened. At first, "the list" identified a small number of cans recalled. Then the list grew to 131 dry and wet foods for dogs and cats. Then another 220 products were added to the recall because they had tainted gravy or cuts. For reasons not yet confirmed, melamine, an industrial chemical not allowed in food, was mixed with wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. Melamine has now been found in the food of some fish, chickens, and pigs farmed for people's dinner tables.

Many families were shocked to find out that although they had carefully chosen food and treats for their pets, they were, in fact, often simply choosing a different brand with the same contents, since one pet food manufacturer, Menu Foods, supplied many brands. On March 16, Menu Foods initiated a recall of 60 million packages of pet food, and has expanded.

The fallout for families' beloved pets was tragic, with many killed before symptoms showed. Many working animals also died, including assistance dogs of disabled people who have lost a lot of freedom as well as their trusted companions.

Many people scrambled to find recipes for homemade pet food, but quickly found that pet food preparation was difficult to figure out, with mind boggling choices of diets, and some advocates so passionate that their opinions of various methods and recipes border on militant. Then people added in the cost and time factor, and most opted for commercial pet food again, after all.

If you decide that your best alternative is to feed commercial pet food, don't worry; there are many safe and healthy pet foods readily available. Here are some rules for choosing a food that will greatly increase the quality of diet you feed your dog and cat:

Six Pet Food Safety Tips

Check for Recall Check if your current pet food is on the recall list at: American Veterinary Medical Association http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/ Menu Foods http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ United States Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

Choose "Human Grade" food. "Veterinary Grade" food is made out of the ingredients the FDA won't allow companies to put in food for human consumption.

Go Organic Organic ingredients are more closely monitored and the standards are generally higher. Philanthropic companies like Newman's Own make human grade, organic pet food and give some of that same money to support healthy dogs and cats. It's a good deal all around.

Don't fall for the "Natural" label.

A lot of what the FDA won't allow companies to put in food for human consumption is labeled "Natural."

If your dog turns his nose up at the new quality dog food there is nothing wrong with mixing in bland table scraps to make the new food more appealing. Many people worry that their dog will learn to beg if he eats "people food." Dogs don't learn to beg because of the food they eat, they learn to beg because of how food is fed to them. Never feed your dog from the dinner table and your dog will never beg at the dinner table. Make sure that the food is free of chicken bones, chocolate, and other foods harmful to pets. Comprehensive pamphlets on dog and cat nutrition are available free from the National Academy of Sciences at http://dels.nas.edu/banr/petdoor.html

Ask your veterinarian to guide you in your choice of foods, especially if your dog or cat has any medical issues.