Disturbing articles out of Hong Kong and South China today. If you are feeding one of the brands listed, will you be contacting the manufacturer to ask them what testing they have done here in the US?
The first one: Cancer-causing toxin found in Hong Kong pet food sparks alarm:
The U.S. manufactured pet foods the Consumer Council found to contain aflatoxin B1 are:
- Purina One Smart Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Adult Dog Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Optimal Care Cat Food
- AvoDerm Natural Chicken & Herring Meal Formula Adult Cat Food
The Consumer Council reported their testing found melamine in:
- Solid Gold Adult Dog Food
- Iams Chicken Cat Food
And cyanuric acid was found in:
- Purina Pro Plan Salmon Cat Food
In 2007, melamine and cyanuric acid were found to be the deadly cause of the largest pet food recall in history.
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| The kibble that your pet dog loves could contain harmful substances. |
A cancer-causing toxin has been found in seven types of pet food sold in Hong Kong.
The Consumer Council said its findings would cause concern among Hong Kong's 286,300 pet-keeping households about the lack of laws regulating animal-food safety.
The council's recent tests on 39 dry pet products - 20 dog foods and 19 cat foods - showed the amounts of aflatoxin B1 found in four dog foods and three cat foods ranged from one to two micrograms per kilogram. They include Purina One Smart Blend chicken and rice formula adult premium dog food, and Kitekat tuna flavour for adult cats.
There are no local laws that specify the level of carcinogens permitted in pet foods, but the level falls within the European Union regulations' safety limits.
Vets told the council that short-term consumption was unlikely to cause a health risk, but long-term consumption could increase the risk of liver impairment, liver tumours and suppression of the immune system.
"Human beings eat a variety of food, and face lower health risks even if a particular food item is found to be problematic. Some pets, however, are fed only one type of dried pet food [and have higher risks]," Consumer Council chief executive Gilly Wong Fung-han said.
The tests also revealed two contaminants: melamine in Solid Gold adult dog food and Iams chicken cat food; and cyanuric acid in Purina Pro Plan salmon cat food and 1st Choice short-hair cat food. Vets said the detected levels did not cause health concerns, but that pet owners should not mix the brands as the contaminants were more toxic when combined.
According to a 2006 Census and Statistics Department survey, one in every eight Hong Kong households kept pets. Given this popularity, the government should assess the need for laws safeguarding animal food, Wong said.
One manufacturer of the pet foods found with aflatoxin B1, Purina One, said the carcinogen was an "unavoidable natural contaminant" found in grains such as corn, barley and rice. Another, AvoDerm, said it had since replaced the corn in its formula that was believed to be the source of the carcinogen.
Animal welfare groups supported legislation.
"Both pet food and human food goes into the stomach. Why is there no regulation for pet food?" Gloria Li Suk-fun, of Stop - Save HK's Cats and Dogs, said.
Sally Andersen of Hong Kong Dog Rescue said many pet owners tried to save money by buying cheap dog food, but ended up paying more to the vets.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Cancer-causing toxin in pet food sparks alarm:
Here is the press release:
A Consumer Council test on dry pet food has detected harmful substances in some of these products.
Although they are unlikely to pose immediate health concern because of the relatively low amount detected, pet owners tasked with the choice of food for their pets are rightly worrisome.
The test, on 39 dry pet foods comprising 20 dog foods and 19 cat foods, revealed the presence of the carcinogen aflatoxin B1, and the contaminants, melamine and cyanuric acid, in some of the samples.
Trace amount of aflatoxin B1, ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 µg/kg dry pet food, was found in 7 models - 4 dog foods and 3 cat foods.
Aflatoxins are produced by various species of a group of toxin-producing fungus found on crops. Among the aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2), aflatoxin B1 is most commonly found in crops, and is the most toxic and carcinogenic. Exposure to aflatoxin B1 may cause liver damage and cirrhosis in animals.
The consolation (if any) is: the levels of aflatoxin B1 found in the samples are all within the safety limits established by the European Union Commission Regulation (EU) No. 574/2011.
The EU sets the maximum amount of aflatoxin B1 in animal feeds (with a moisture content of 12%) at 0.01 ppm (10 µg/kg) in complementary and complete feed, and at 0.02 ppm (20 µg/kg) in feed materials (when animals are given a diet consisting of various feed materials).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also sets action level for the regulation of aflatoxins content in animal feeds and feeding ingredients.
Veterinarians are generally of the opinion that the low amounts of aflatoxin B1 detected in the test samples are unlikely to cause a health risk to pets for short-term consumption.
However, they caution that since aflatoxin B1 is a known carcinogen, it should best be avoided; long-term exposure to aflatoxin B1 could increase the risk of liver impairment, tumors in liver, and suppressed immune system.
The level of risk depends on the species, age of animal, health condition, doses and duration of aflatoxin exposure. Young animals, and pets in pregnancy, are usually more sensitive to aflatoxin.
Pets with symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea should be brought to the vet for medical attention.
Besides the detection of aflatoxin B1, 2 models were found with the contaminant melamine and 2 others with cyanuric acid, both in only small quantities.
Melamine and melamine-related compounds such as cyanuric acid were at the centre of a widespread outbreak of renal failure and deaths of cats and dogs in 2007 when some pet food products were found with the contaminants. It was suspected that such harmful substances were added to pet food ingredients to increase the apparent protein levels of the products.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the USFDA and the EU Regulation all adopted the maximum melamine level to be limited at 2.5 mg/kg for animal feeds. All samples in the test were found to be in compliance with the requirement.
In the opinion of veterinarians, the detected amounts of melamine and cyanuric acid are of a very low level and since the two contaminants exist individually in the samples, and are not in co-existence, there is no cause for undue concern over the health risk they pose to pets.
The danger arises when both contaminants, though individually of a low acute toxicity, are taken in combination which is far more toxic than either compound alone.
Exposure to both substances may lead to formation of crystals, resulting in blockage of tubules in kidneys that may cause acute renal failure in animals.
Care should be taken if mixing different brands of dry food in order to avoid the hazard of feeding both contaminants to your pets.
Unbeknown to probably many pet owners is the availability of information regarding daily feeding instruction on all pet-food labels. Owing to the varied nutritional contents per gram of different products, the daily feed amount differs also from brand to brand.
As such, when changing brand, consumers are advised to read the daily feeding instruction so as not to over-or under-feed your pets.
All samples were found to be free of Salmonella and E. Coli O157. These are pathogens harmful also to humans.
Some useful tips for pet lovers:
~ Read the ingredient list and "use by" or "best fed by" date before purchase. Buy the right amount . . . . do not buy in big bulk. Store pet food properly in its original package inside an air-tight container in a dry area ~ not in a humid environment. And, in the event the food deteriorates and smells, it should be discarded immediately.
~ Always clean the food dishes thoroughly to keep the fresh food safe.
~ Feed your pets with reference to the daily feeding instructions. Feed the pet food as soon as possible once you have opened the package.
Put a PREMIUM on Your Pet's Health! Choose Life's Abundance!
Life's Abundance has been in business since 1999 and has NEVER BEEN RECALLED, and our food is delivered FRESH to your door.
Life's Abundance products are formulated by holistic vet, Dr. Jane Bicks.
Stop taking chances with big commercial pet foods that are repeat offenders! If your pet is family, your best friend, your loved one ~ treat them like it!
Please don't feed foods from manufacturers with constant problems.
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