Beagle in Mind
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Beautiful Little Weirdos
  • Donations
    • Donations BRAG
  • BRAG
    • BRAG Match Assessment Form - Puppies (9 weeks - 14 months)
    • BRAG Match Asessment Form (Older than 14 months)
    • Why is BRAG different?
    • BRAG-ging Tails
    • BRAG Support
  • Need Help

What's in the Bag? Part 1

4/10/2018

0 Comments

 

Understanding the Pet Food Industry & who regulates it

Before we continue it is important to understand who regulates the main stream pet food industry.
Picture
Picture from truthaboutpetfood.com

USA

We discuss mainly the US regulating bodies and their standards as they are the largest pet food regulating authority in the world. Most other countries use these standards.

AAFCO - Association of American Feed Control Officials

​According to their website, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is “an independent membership association of local, state and federal agencies charged by law to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies.” AAFCO doesn’t have any regulatory authority itself, but its guidelines are used by government agencies.

According the their site they have three main goals:
  • Safeguarding the health of animals and humans
  • Ensure consumer protection
  • Providing a level playing field of orderly commerce for the animal feed industry.​

FDA, USDA & CVM 

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulate the safety of pet foods. The FDA is the ultimate regulating authority regarding that. The FDA monitors food branding, ingredient safety and within the FDA the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) monitors health claims.
Only the FDA has the authority to recall pet foods. It is important to note (for later posts) that the FDA makes no distinction between raw and cooked pet foods and that they only test raw foods for contamination.

Other countries

South Africa

Picture
Pet Food Industry Association of Southern Africa (PFISA)
PFISA is a non-profit formed by pet food manufacturers. It represents 62% of the pet food market in South Africa and according to their website: "​Pet food is randomly and regularly purchased by the PFI, and submitted for independent analysis."

Europe

Picture
The European Pet Food Industry (fediaf) is represented by various pet food organisations across 18 countries in Europe.
Notably on the list of 5 United Kingdom representatives Nestlè Purina and HIll's Pet Nutrition are also members of this body.
The mission on their website states:
"To be the credible and responsible voice of the European pet food industry collaborating with authorities, regulators and academics for achieving favourable conditions for the supply of safe, nutritious and palatable products."

Canada

Picture
The Canadian Vetrinary Medical Association (CVMA)  list their priorities as follows:
  • Leadership on national veterinary issues
  • Animal welfare advocacy
  • A successful career, a balanced life
Interestingly the FDA does not allow the CVMA logo on packaging of foods exported to the US from Canada.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    ALTERNATIVE HEALING & BLOG DISCLAIMER
    Alternative healing articles and any other advice featured in this blog do not claim to replace any conventional veterinary treatment. This is an educational blog for Beagle owners to read about alternative options that we as Beagle owners have tried ourselves and seen positive outcomes. We do not post anything we have not experienced positively and will never endorse anything in which we do not believe through positive experience.

    Kinesiology and other healing modalities do not diagnose, cure or prescribe, as these activities are the prerogative of veterinarians. Kinesiology may provide a different, energy-based approach to allergy support, and potentially allow for a reduction in the use of corticosteroids. As a kinesiologist, I believe that allergies, just like other ailments, may have an emotional and/or mental aspect which is worth addressing. As such, this modality represents a valid complementary therapy to veterinary care. 
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Alternative Healing
    Feeding Raw
    Owning A Beagle
    Pet Food General
    Pet Food - General
    Q&A

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Beautiful Little Weirdos
  • Donations
    • Donations BRAG
  • BRAG
    • BRAG Match Assessment Form - Puppies (9 weeks - 14 months)
    • BRAG Match Asessment Form (Older than 14 months)
    • Why is BRAG different?
    • BRAG-ging Tails
    • BRAG Support
  • Need Help