How the Largest Beef Recall In History Effects Pet Owners

by Susan Thixton

The U.S. is experiencing the largest beef recall in history. Major television networks and social websites on the Internet have provided a hidden camera video provided by the Humane Society showing downer cattle - animals that are sick or diseased and unable to stand - being prodded with forklifts and beaten in attempts to move them to the slaughter area. If you can stomach it, the link to the video is below. The video is very difficult to view and alarming to know that any meat processor would disregard the safety of U.S. citizens and process diseased animals into human food. Pet owners should be aware that even though it is illegal toprocess downer cattle into human food, it is legal and common to process these downer animals into pet food.

The FDA and the USDA classify downer cattle as SRMs -Specified Risk Materials. Meat products known to be a specified risk of spreading mad cow disease. According to federal law, it is illegal to process SRM animals for use in human food AND to be processed into ruminant (cattle, sheep,pig) feed in order to protect U.S. citizens from mad cow disease. Unfortunately, it is legal and common practice to process SRM animals into pet food. Sick or diseased animals that are known risks to humans - are processed into pet food. Mad cow disease has already crossed species into cats in Europe and mink worldwide. Are U.S. pets next?

When the FDA was considering a change in the pet food regulations, members of the cattle industry, rendering industry, pet food industry, and various other organizations lobbied the FDA either for stricter/safer regulations to protect pets - or lobbied against it.

A letter dated August 13, 2004 from the Humane Society ofthe United States wrote in favor of a ban of all SRM material in all foods - human, ruminant, or pet foods."As the country's largest animal protection organization we are deeply concerned about the potential impact of transmissiblespongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) on animal health.The removal from animal feed of downers, dead stock (animals that have died on the farm), cattle showing signs of a CNS disorder, and cattle who appear rabies-suspect but test negative would add another important layer of protection since these animals have a greater incidence of BSE than the general population.There is strong evidence that cats are susceptible to BSE and we therefore urge the FDA to prohibit immediately the use in pet food of any SRMs, downers, deadstock, or cattle showing signs of a CNS disorder or testing negative for rabies.There have been confirmed cases of Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy in approximately 100 cats in Europe. Since the FDA is charged with ensuring the safety of the food cats consume, we feel it would be reckless not to prohibit the inclusion of the high risk materials enumerated above in pet food."

Opposing the proposed ban was Garth Merrick (Merrick PetFood). Quoting his letter to the FDA dated July 28, 2004"ANPR's proposed rule to prohibit SRM's from all animal food including pet food and prohibiting materials from non ambulatory cattle and dead stock from all animal feed creates the below listed consequences of disposal of pounds that previously could be manufactured into animal feed. SRM's in cattle under 30 months of age have been estimated to be 20 pounds per head. In Texas there are four packing houses processing approximately 100,000 head per week times 20 pounds equals 2,000,000 times 52 weeks equals 104,000,000 of product that no one has discussed what to do with. If you cannot render it for feed to be fed to chickens, swine or pet food, then you have destroyed a system that currently works. We are the original recyclers. These numbers are only for Texas; when you consider the other lower 47 states, the consequences are inconceivable as to what the health hazards could be if these products are not processed the way they are currently being done."

No decision has been made by the FDA to ban SRM materialsfrom use in pet food or pet treats.

Do you think SRM cattle - diseased or dying animals should be processed into dog food or cat food? The HumaneSociety's hidden camera video of downer cattle - available for the not so weak to view at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWmAJlwLnQI shows the health conditions of these SRM animals.

Even if you are a non pet owner reading this article, I'm doubtful you would think sick and dying animals are safe to feed pets.Personally if a livestock animal has been declared a Specified Risk Material - I don't care who has the expense of disposing of the material - just don't usepet food as the 'disposal method'.Pet food becomes theprofitable disposal method.SRMs are sold to pet foodmanufacturers providing revenue for a product that is otherwise un-sellable.Those pet food manufacturers that purchase SRM materials obtain 'meat' at hugely discountedprices. By no means could SRMs be profitable to the pet or the pet owner.

By products, meat and bone meal, meat meal, animal digest,and animal fat are all ingredients that could be processed SRM animals.Please read your pet food and pet treat labels!

Before you put your pet at risk, learn the Truth About PetFood. Register for the Truth About Pet Food free newsletterand stay updated on the latest pet food news. (http://www.petsumerreport.com/)