You have probably heard about the beef recall.The major networks have aired a video provided by The Humane Society showing downed cattle - sick/diseased cattle unable to stand - being shoved with a fork lift into the slaughter area (if you are courageous, link to the video is below). It is extremely difficult to watch and frightening to think that a unscrupulous meat processor would ignore safety protocol and endanger U.S. citizens by processing sick or diseased animals into human food.Pet owners should take special notice of this story - because even though it is illegal to process downed cattle into human food - it is legal and common practice to process downed cattle into pet food.
The FDA classifies downer cattle as SRMs - Specified Risk Materials - specified as risk materials to spread mad cow disease. FDA regulations clearly state that it is illegal for SRM animals to be introduced into human food as well as being illegal to be processed into ruminant (cattle, sheep, pig) feed to prevent human exposure to mad cow disease. What most pet owners are not aware of is that it is legal and common practice to process SRM animals into pet food. Sick, diseased, or dying cattle that are classified as Specified Risks to humans - are not allowed to be processed into cattle or pig feed - are legally processed into pet food. Mad cow disease is known to have 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.
On the side approving the proposed ban on all SRM materials is the Humane Society. In a letter dated August 13, 2004 the Humane Society wrote the following to the FDA” As the country’s largest animal protection organizationwe are deeply concerned about the potential impact of transmissible spongiform 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, dead stock, 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.”
On the opposing side to ban all SRM materials for use in pet food was Garth Merrick of Merrick Pet Foods. From 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.”
The FDA has taken no action to ban SRM materials from pet food or pet treats.
Do you think SRM materials - sick, diseased, or dying animals should be allowed to be processed into dog food or cat food? If you can stomach it, the Humane Society’s hidden camera video is a vivid example of the health condition of SRM cattle. You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWmAJlwLnQI Notice the downer cattle and then decide if you think these animals would be suitable for use in any food.
Even if you are a non pet owner reading this article, I’m doubtful you would think sick, diseased, 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 use pet food as the ‘disposal method’.Pet food becomes the profitable disposal method.SRMs are sold to pet food manufacturers providing revenue for a product that is otherwise un-sellable.Those pet food manufacturers that purchase SRM materials obtain ‘meat’ at hugely discounted prices.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!
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