Pentobarbital poisoning can result in "drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner) and inability to stand," the FDA says. The deadly toxin is never permitted to kill animals that are part of the food supply and would violate federal law if it was. In order to determine if pentobarbital residues were present in animal feeds, CVM developed a sophisticated process to detect and quantify minute levels down to 2 parts per billion of pentobarbital in dry dog food. Dogs were given known quantities of pentobarbital for eight weeks to determine if consumption of small amounts of pentobarbital resulted in any physiological changes that could indicate potential effects on health. How did pentobarbital get into this dog food? The toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS create health hazards at home, since they're used in everyday items like cookware and cosmetics - and new EWG research finds some popular pet food packaging can be yet another way we're exposed to the perils of PFAS. In the event of a long-term disaster, there are non-food essentials that can be vital to your survival and well-being. . Actually thats not true, not only is that illegal(as mentioned in this and other articles) You cant put rotten food, roadkill or notably euthanised animals into pet food, which us WHY this whole recall has happened. Life is calmer on the vegan side, for both human beings and animals, try it!! The low levels of exposure to sodium pentobarbital (pentobarbital) that dogs might receive through food is unlikely to cause them any adverse health effects, Food and Drug Administration scientists concluded after conducting a risk assessment. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The animals are put to death by injection and their bodies are then sold to pet food companies. But pet food is highly regulated in the US by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Organization). Independent plants obtain animal by-product materials, including grease, blood, feathers, offal, and entire animal carcasses, from the following sources: butcher shops, supermarkets, restaurants, fast-food chains, poultry processors, slaughterhouses, farms, ranches, feedlots, and animal shelters. This is another starchy crop that should be avoided. The results demonstrated a complete absence of material that would have been derived from euthanized dogs or cats. Wheat: Wheat is another ingredient found in abundance in many pet foods. However, no amount of sodium pentobarbital, a common lethal drug used to put animals to sleep, is acceptable in pet food, the agency warns. China produces and eats the most horse meat in the world. Please log in again. The healthiest option is unsalted . The results were horrible. Copyright 2023 WATT Global Media. Susan Thixton. Its illegal to do this but the FDA has turned a blind eye. Smucker Company is voluntarily withdrawing shipments of several of its dog food brands, including Gravy Train, Kibbles N Bits, Ol Roy and Skippy. Euthanasia: Making the Decision. If youre wondering how the drug got into the dog food, you arent alone. One more confirmation to the horror many of us have suspected for years; an EPA document clearly states Rendering Facilities "obtain animal by-product materials" from "animal shelters.". The FDA says . Its too easy to think it wont happen when it seems lime its been easy for it to have happened. Those ingredients are subject to high-heat processing which kills pathogens, but in turn creates substances that are dangerous for dogs to eat (more on that later). According to a message sent to retailers, the foods could contain a drug that is used in euthanasia. 28 February 2002. Drugs used to euthanize pets have been found in some pet foods, leading to rumors the product may include . They use vague terms like meat meal rather than more specific words like chicken meal to describe their components. Pet food with the labels Gravy Train, Ol'Roy, Kibbles N' Bits, or Skippy Premium, can be returned to the store for a full refund. The FDA says that such a low level of this drug in pet food is unlikely to seriously harm pets. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a euthanasia drug in several brands of dog food, leading some brands to issue a voluntary recall and causing concern among pet owners. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley (UPC: 7910051934), Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Thats what killed her, said Mael. In the second article, published on February 19, 1990, Mr. Eckhouse, an investigative reporter, writes: "Each year, millions of dead American dogs and cats are processed along with billions of pounds of other animal materials by companies known as renderers. All rights reserved. Only the brands listed. 9 Bravo. We do not provide financial advice and recommend you speak to a financial advisor before making any financial decisions. Of all the brands tested, the popular brand Gravy Train, repeatedly came back positive for pentobarbital, according to the station. The 9 Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs of 2023. with Chicken Chunks (UPC: 7910051645), Ol Roy 13.2 oz. Chefs Choice Homestyle Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy (UPC: 7910010380), Skippy 13.2 oz. view a full list of the affected products here. Euthanasia drugs, of course, do not disperse or go inert, which is why when you have pets put down, you must have them cremated (at least that is what I am told). Smucker Co. withdrew shipments of several brands of dog foods amid reports that the product was tainted with pentobarbital. Many pet food manufacturers, including [a] site run by a pet food industry group, say that they are not using rendered pets to make a cannibal of your dog. Part of HuffPost Home & Living. 6. Pentobarbital is most commonly used as a sedative, anesthetic or to euthanize animals, it said. The grease becomes the source of animal fat in most pet foods. What about cats? Pet food companies can say on their labels that they are selling "food" and using "food" ingredients, while actually using feed-grade ingredients inside the bag or can. tags, and . The ideas expressed on this site are solely the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions of sponsors or firms affiliated with the author(s). Consuming high levels of pentobarbital can cause coma and death, it said. The influence by the pet food industry over AAFCO manifests itself through AAFCOs irrational regulations, including ingredient definitions which effectively prohibit organic chickens and vegetables, while blindly permitting thousands of euthanized cats and dogs to make their way into pet foods through the unsupervised rendering industry. The Organic Prepper website is not a news organization. While Americans have largely avoided horse meat except in lean times, U.S. plants were slaughtering horses for food as recently as 2006. Pentobarbital is synthesized by methods analogous to that of amobarbital, the only difference being that the alkylation of -ethylmalonic ester is carried out with 2-bromopentane in place of 1-bromo-3-methylbutane to give pentobarbital. The vets told her they werent sure what was going on, but that things didnt look good. In a different article, the brand Ol Roy was also included in the list of recalled brands. If a low level of pentobarbital did not cause a dog to produce additional cytochrome P450 enzymes, then scientists could assume that the pentobarbital at that low level had no significant effect on the dog. Based on these reports, CVM officials decided to investigate a plausible theory that the dogs were exposed to pentobarbital through dog food, and that this exposure was making them less responsive to pentobarbital when it was used as a drug. When I grew up we fed them what we ate and we hardly ever took them to a vet. We sincerely apologize for the concern this has caused.. The dates appear on the photo at the top, upper left-hand side. Walmart's own-brand Ol' Roy dog god promises complete nutrition yet ultimately fails to deliver. Which means it is absorbed by your dogs fat cells. WJLA-TV sent samples of wet dog food from more than two dozen brands to an independent lab to be tested for pentobarbital. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. "A Dog-Eat-Dog World. The British Food Standards Agency said Taco Bells products contained more than 1% (pdf) horse meat. She eat dry food only and its Purina. Since the fat cells do not excrete the penobarbitol, it simply accumulates in the fat cells to the point that, over time, the levels add up to a LETHAL DOSE. Pet Food Brands Containing Euthanized Pets. Vegan pets are are healthier which saves both pain and money. When Hershel Pendell appeared in a Seattle King 5 television interview and was asked if pet food contained euthanized pets he said "If the ingredient list meat or bone meal, you don't know if it is cattle, or sheep, or horse. It is not an indication of harm, but was selected as the most sensitive indicator to detect any biological effect due to pentobarbital. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Burger Bacon Cheese and Beef Vegetable Variety Pack (UPC: 7910010380; 7910010377; 7910010375), KibblesN Bits 13.2 oz. Its a kick in the butt for me to make my own food for my beloved canines. Nutrients like protein and fat are best sourced from meat, so stick to foods that list meat as the first ingredient. Accessed 9 March 2017. Again, not great that they're in there, but it's still a significant difference. The phenobarbital used in euthanasia has been found to remain in significant amounts in meat processed from euthanized animals. Instead, grab a bigger pot when you cook rice, beans, veggies and give them that. Following injection of the euthanasia drug, your pet will immediately become deeply and irreversibly unconscious as the drug stops brain function. It is not recommended to use, or consider using Tylenol PM to euthanize a dog at home. 2 oz. Edited for Typographical Errors, March 1, 2002. Kibbles 'n Bits brand Dog Food; Chef's Choice Homestyle Tender Slices With Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy; packaged in metal cans with Net Wt. Most are in it for the money. Make certain you have these 50 non-food stockpile essentials. Pets that eat pet food containing pentobarbital can experience drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner) and inability to stand. The Organic Prepper and LutherCompany 2022. There were the usual denials by pet food executives. "Unraveling the Pet-Food Mystery." Let's all notice who owns Rachel Ray, the Smucker Company. "Pets that eat pet food containing pentobarbital can experience drowsiness, dizziness, excitement . Calories. Mold, toxins cause liver failure in our pets," said Morgan. You can check the FDA website, there are several articles which include the info but also the FDA site continually updates recalls. Recently, a Washington, D.C. TV station WJLA partnered with Ellipse Analytics to test several brands of wet dog food for the drug pentobarbital, a common euthanasia drug used to put down pets and zoo animals. There are many pet food brands that contain euthanized pets. Despite reassurances that the tainted food doesnt present a risk, a previous pentobarbital taint caused the death of one familys beloved pet. However, including euthanized animals issimply inexcusable, nor are the resulting health problems that this creates in our own pets acceptable. 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