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Oh, The Irony: "Natural" Pet Foods
Posted by:
jn on
June 13, 2009 at
2:46PM MT
Here's a March 2008 video on the Evanger's pet food website, presented by Food Network's tv cooking personality, Rachael Ray. Ironically, Rachael Ray should be the LAST person pet owners should listen to. Ever. I'll tell you why in my next article.
You have to watch the video to appreciate the irony. I mean, the numerous ironies. First, we have Rachael Ray touring Evanger's "fabulous, high standards" manufacturing plant, guiding us through Evanger's conveyor-belt manufacturing process for their "all-natural" canned pet foods. Next we hear how "all natural" ingredients are picked exclusively by the owners, to ensure your pet is getting the very very best meat, fruit and vegetables from local markets. And we hear Ray remind us that NONE of the Evanger's products were affected by the 2007 pet food recalls. Returning to the plant, the camera zooms in on a digital analyzer that "periodic testing confirms that each pet food recipe conforms to industry standards and government regulations." And then a few statements about cat nutrition. The video oddly cuts off at this point. But, the FDA is not so impressed. The problem actually dates back to April 2008. After inspections conducted in March and April this year, yesterday the FDA suspended a Temporary Emergency Permit, claiming Evanger's "deviated from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and recordkeeping requirements in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. The deviations in their processes and documentation could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as humans." The FDA notes "Botulism is a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. The disease has been documented in dogs and cats. Signs of botulism in animals are progressive muscle paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness to the body. Death is usually due to paralysis of the heart or the muscles used in breathing." Read the FDA's action here. You can also read Evanger's response to the FDA, where they conveniently shift blame onto their "process expert", and ignore the FDA's concerns entirely: "In August of 2008, while updating required process information to the FDA our "process authority" (processing expert) inadvertently deleted pertinent filings. Evanger's has been working with the FDA to resolve this issue quickly. This situation does not call into question the safety of any Evanger's products." Bottom line: the terms "organic", "wholesome", "all-natural", "human grade" and other nonsensical terms (and often misleading claims) in the world of "natural" pet foods, does not always mean safe, nor does it mean you are in fact, getting a "high quality" product. Evanger's is not the only pet food company to come under the FDA's inspection and enforcement action, or the public's scrutiny, and it certainly won't be the last. Least of all, should pet owners be taking advice from tv personalities and celebrities on pet foods.
Send This | Categories: Advertising, dubious, false, Cats. Dogs, Dog food, Cat food, Evangers, FDA, Health, Product Warning, Toxicity
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