Earlier this week I wrote a diary about Pets for the Environment, which is non-profit advocating for new regulations for pet food. They were hoping to participate in a public meeting sponsored by the FDA to allow consumers to express their views about the manner in which the pet-food industry is regulated (or not regulated, as last year's recall--as well as more recent "problems" that the FDA has dealt with quietly so as not to arouse the public's concern, demonstrates. This meeting turned out to be a sham when it was adjourned shortly after it began. The result: little to no public input.
But it's not too late to take action and demand that the FDA place consumers and their pets ahead of the pet food industry. Follow me below the fold to find out how you can help.
The issue of toxic pet food is an important one and the manner in which the food industry is regulated is intimately linked to wider issues of human food safety and exposure to harmful chemicals through the products we use on a daily basis. As such Pets for the Environment is affiliated with the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit advocating for new legislation to eliminate toxins that contaminate our environment and poison our bodies.
Fellow Kossack ChristieKeith of Pet Connection fame has written extensively on the issue of the Pet Food Recall of March 2007. She recently posted about what transpired at the FDA meeting in this blog entry: FDA Drops Ball on Public Meeting About Pet Food. You can read this and follow the links to learn more about the FDA's mishandling of pet-food safety.
But what can you do as an individual?
You can help protect the lives of pets in two ways:
- Go to the FDA website and leave a (polite) comment that lets them know in no uncertain terms that they should create more stringent regulations to cover the pet food industry (you will need to find FDA-2007-N-0443--0003 from 01/07/2008, then click on the right-hand side, yellow leave a comment icon). These new measures should require manufacturers to apply the same standards used for human food products, to include truthful labeling about content, place of manufacture, and source of ingredients. Above all, you should urge the FDA to disallow the use of toxic chemicals as additives to pet food.
- You can still donate to Pets for the Environment, which will use your donations to test several major pet foods for toxic chemicals. If you would prefer to purchase your kitty or pup some delicious, organic treats, or give them a toy that is free of toxins, made from recycled plastic or organic fibers, you can purchase from the online pet-supply store, The Leash We Can Do! The Leash We Can Do! is a new company that is leading the way towards making pets and their owners green and healthy and will be donating ten percent of its proceeds to Pets for the Environment.
Please contact the FDA and make a contribution to help these organizations take the fight to our government in the name of a healthier planet for all its inhabitants!
Our Pets Deserve Better!