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PET FOOD: A GLOBAL CONCERN rial derived from animals that have been inspected and passed as The pet food industry worldwide is basically the same as that in _ fit for human consumption. Most of the material derived from the United States with little, if any, regulations regarding the _ these animals would be listed on the labels as meat by-products. I ingredients used in its products. questioned the PFMA about the pet foods that are imported to the And as with the situation in Canada, a vast percentage of the pet | United Kingdom because of the dubious ingredients used in some foods sold in other countries is imported from the United States. of these products. Alison Walker of the PFMA replied to my inquiry, writing: "The import certification relates to materials ¢ Australia specifically allowed in pet food—e.g., low-risk materials or, in In Australia, the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia other words, that [which] is fit for, but not intended for, human (PFIAA), a voluntary organisation, fills the same role as the Pet = consumption." Ms Walker also advised that it is illegal to use Food Institute in the United States, with a goal of promoting pet | dead companion animals in the manufacture of pet food in the foods and setting standards for this self-regulated industry. | United Kingdom and in most European countries. In the US and Again, labelling text, not the source of ingredients, is the prime Canada, there are no regulations which prohibit this material from concern of this agency. being used in commercial pet food. The other Australian agency involved with pet food, the The PFMA leaves it to the member companies to operate their National Registration Authority for Agriculture and Veterinary own in-house quality assurance programs and feeding trials. Pet Chemicals, has as its "main role, with regard to pet foods, the reg- food manufacturers are also in charge of testing the incoming raw istration of therapeutic claims associated with veterinary diets". _ materials used in their products. Because of the number of cases Their role would not cover pet foods sold in of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) supermarkets or feed stores; only pet diets in the United Kingdom, and the number of that are sold through veterinary clinics and cats that have died from the feline form of used for health-related problems. The NRA's this disease (90 documented cases to date), role parallels that of the Center for Veterinary certain materials derived from beef have been Medicine (CVM) in the USA. banned for use in pet food. This includes the In August 1997, the Australian head, spleen, thymus, tonsils, brain and spinal Competition and Consumer Commission cord, and the large and small intestines of (ACCC) asked for a guideline review of pet The only way cows as well as sheep or goats. It is still legal foods after consumer complaints about the 9 to use pigs in pet foods because there have labelling of certain varieties of pet food being we will seea change been no known cases of spongiform potentially misleading as to which protein in this industry encephalopathy in these animals. was the main one. One example was a pet . food which was essentially a meat product is for pet owners WHAT PET OWNERS CAN DO and was labelled as a fish product. During its As we have seen, the commercial food we investigation, the ACCC found that the to boycott pet foods are feeding our pets is generally garbage labelling of other varieties of canned pet and, in my opinion, is unfit to feed to food was also potentially misleading our pets. For the last 13 years, I have and deceptive. It was agreed by the fed my pets a home-prepared diet com- ACCC and the PFIAA that revisions to prised of lightly cooked meat or fish, the labelling were needed. grains and fresh vegetables and fruit. All of them, including my 27-year-old cat, have done extremely well. The only way we will see a change in this industry is for pet owners to boycott pet foods that contain inferior ingredients, including drugs which would never be allowed in the human represents approximately 95% of the food chain. We must also boycott UK pet food manufacturing industry companies that undertake experiments and is comprised of 56 member companies. Their role is to pro- on animals—not only on dogs and cats but on ail animals. It is mote pet food products and responsible pet ownership, represent apparent that the only reason these experiments are undertaken is their members' views to United Kingdom and European Union _to ascertain the cheapest, most viable sources of protein, grains that contain inferior ingredients, including drugs. ¢ United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, the organisa- tion that oversees the pet food industry is also much like the Pet Food Institute in the United States. The Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) government departments and raise standards in the pet food indus- and fats that can be used in pet foods. try. It is you and I who will make a difference. 2 Tf you believe PFMA's literature, then the policies in the United Kingdom are much stricter than those of other countries. | About the Author: "Member companies only use materials from animal species — Ann Martin is the author of Protect Your Pet (NewSage Press, which are generally accepted in the human food chain," states 2001) and Food Pets Die For (NewSage Press, 1997, 2nd edi- Alison Walker, spokesperson for the PFMA. "This rules out the tion 2003). For more information, visit the web page use of any materials from horses, ponies, whales and other sea _http://www.newsagepress.com/foodpetsdiefor.html#author. mammals, kangaroos and many other species. The pet food To order Ann Martin's books, contact NewSage Press by tele- industry only uses materials of beef, lamb, poultry and pork ori- — phone on 877 695 2211 (toll free in North America only), by gin, fish, shellfish, rabbit and game." email at info@newsagepress.com, or via http://www. The literature further states that PFMA members use only mate- — newsagepress.com or Amazon.com. The pet food industry worldwide is basically the same as that in the United States with little, if any, regulations regarding the ingredients used in its products. And as with the situation in Canada, a vast percentage of the pet foods sold in other countries is imported from the United States. The only way we will see a change in this industry is for pet owners to boycott pet foods ___ that contain inferior ingredients, including drugs. About the Author: Ann Martin is the author of Protect Your Pet (NewSage Press, 2001) and Food Pets Die For (NewSage Press, 1997, 2nd edi- tion 2003). For more information, visit the web page http:/www.newsagepress.com/foodpetsdiefor.html#author. To order Ann Martin's books, contact NewSage Press by tele- phone on 877 695 2211 (toll free in North America only), by email at info@newsagepress.com, or via http://www. newsagepress.com or Amazon.com. 16 ¢ NEXUS PET FOOD: A GLOBAL CONCERN WWW.NeXU smagazi ne.com AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2003