FDA wants to Talk to Bloggers

This is interesting; the FDA is hosting a webinar for animal health and safety bloggers. Can’t wait to hear what they say.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 3:00 to 3:30 ET Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, and Dr. Bernadette Dunham, Director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine “will focus on the importance of animal health and safety for both animals and pet owners”. There is also “an opportunity to ask questions or offer feedback”.

The bad news is that the webinar is only open to the first 100 attendees who sign in to the meeting URL. However there is the option to listening to the webinar over the phone; no word on how many phone lines have been reserved. The FDA notice of this webinar states pet owners can follow or join the conversation on Twitter “by using the hashtag #FDApet.” I attempted to follow FDApet on Twitter and could not find them listed.

I sent the following questions to the FDA for the webinar…
1. Although the CVM has found no adverse effects from diseased or euthanized animals being processed into pet foods, the issue still remains that these ingredients in pet food violate Federal Law. I have to say, I have an issue with a governmental policy that allows Federal Law to be violated. After all, the law is the law. Could someone address this issue?

2. Is pentobarbital testing on pet food planned again by the FDA? It's been almost ten years since your previous testing and I'm sure pet owners would appreciate an FDA update on pet food that might contain pentobarbital.

3. Has there been a resolve to the Evangers Pet Food issue? I have searched the FDA website, emailed and left a voicemail request to learn what the resolve was with Evangers. Please advise us.

4. With the recent Premium Edge Cat Food recall, the pet food company states they recalled the pet food on September 23, 2009 - yet the first release from the FDA (which we all depend on) was dated 10/20/09. Why the almost one month difference in recall dates?

5. Currently, it is my understanding that during an FDA investigation of a pet food, no comment can be made to concerned pet owners. As example, the Nutro Cat Food issue a few months ago. Word all over the Internet seemed to show a clear problem with Nutro Cat Food, yet the FDA would not comment and in fact an FDA representative stated Nutro was NOT being investigated. However, a few weeks following this statement, Nutro did indeed recall some pet foods. Please consider developing some type of ‘during the investigation’ alert to pet owners. This just-in- case information could save countless pets lives. A response to this would be appreciated.

6. Can you address a step by step procedure for pet owners to follow should they suspect their pet becomes ill or dies from a pet food?

7. Pet owners that support my website (TruthaboutPetFood.com) have initiated a back up Recall Alert program (Pet Food Recall First Alert); we have asked our pet food companies to initiate an email notification system where the company itself can notify registered subscribers of a product withdrawal or recall. Please understand we are not attempting to replace existing FDA protocol for pet food recalls; we wanted a back-up system to be notified of a problem with our pet food. What does the FDA think about this grass roots effort by pet owners? Do we have your support?

I hope these questions get answered. We’ll see.

To read the FDA information on the webinar, visit http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/ucm192665.htm

If I am one of the first 100 attendees, I will certainly report on the Webinar to you.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

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