Usually I’m torn between slamming the FDA for their failure to protect consumers in favor of protecting corporations and decrying their inadequate resources to get the job done. Today though, I’m definitely on the former.
For one thing, I watched Food Inc on PBS last night. I actually only watched the first hour because I couldn’t take any more. I’ll go back for the second hour when I’ve gotten my strength back. Suffice to say the documentary is a graphic reminder that the government agencies mandated to keep our food supply safe are falling down on the job.
For another, FDA is using its scant resources to bring down the hammer on compounding pharmacies – which is an overreaction and a waste of taxpayer money in my view.
And finally, although the FDA did very little during the massive 2007 pet food recalls besides continually tell the public to buy corporate pet food because it’s perfectly safe and you can’t feed your pet on your own, they have now issued a consumer update warning dog owners not to feed bones:
The idea that it’s natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one. However, it’s a dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.
It continues on about how bones may puncture the stomach, get lodged in the intestines, break teeth, etc. A Veterinarian is quoted as follows:
“There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on.”
Right. Probably ones that your Vet sells even. But that’s a total coincidence.
Shame on FDA for making no mention of the differences between raw and cooked bones. And shame on FDA for leading consumers to believe that the exact same warnings they give about feeding bones don’t also apply to dogs chewing “bone-like products”. And finally, shame on FDA for perpetuating their beloved myth that it takes a rocket scientist to know how to feed a dog and the general pet owning public is too dumb to ever figure it out.
Trust the professionals, do not try feeding your pet real food, you might kill him. Also, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
as usual I am on the “other side”.. our food supply is the safest in the world.. Bones?/ my dog cracked his tooth on a raw marrow bone..TWICE.. so you can see I still feed some raw..including chicken even with the dreaded salmonella threat.. LOL..
Food Inc is a ‘documentary” that shows only one side of the story. It is intended to turn people away from meat and dairy products and to tell people that food is “just not that good for you” unless it is “organic, natural and comes from small farms where farmers are not raising anything in large quantities.. the worst thing is that Food Inc is being offered to be shown in schools.. indoctrination at its finest..
There are people ( children) going hungry everyday in America.. not too mention the rest of the world.. Food Inc may be fine for educated wealthy people .. who can afford farmers market prices and “organic veggies and meats’.. but in the main most people just want to eat..and eat what they can afford.
As for compounding pharmacies.. fine.. no problem.. BUT I was charge $90.00 .. yes ninety dollars.. for MOUTHWASH to help a toothache.. I ordered it before I knew the price.. so live and learn..
PS didn’t all of those polo ponies die because of a compounding pharmacy error??
While Food, Inc points out some problems, it is also propaganda. Wish someone would do the topic without an agenda!
It appears the polo ponies deaths were caused by the doctor’s error in writing the script; although the pharmacists should probably have caught the error too.
The FDA (and federal and state agencies generally): Gonna have to stand with what YesBiscuit says on that part.
(Started home brewing food for my dogs over a year ago. Wish I’d have figured it out MUCH sooner, would have saved a LOT on vet bills for BS treatment of allergies; not to mention the poor old girls’ pain and suffering. Veterinarian was shocked at their improved health. Started to bluster when I told what I’d done and then just froze and looked at them and shut up.)
I’m a bit of a homemade dog food aficionado (ok, it’s like porn to me) and am always interested to hear details on what people feed. Do you have a specific recipe you follow or just “table scraps” or what?
Excellent statement! We’ve just begun our transition to raw feeding. Our German Shepherd has had an unfair, and largely cruel first year of life – and I’m convinced it is (was) solely his diet. Underweight, allergic, lethargic, and consistent backfire (read in between the lines). We just didn’t know… the vet invented a dozen excuses (here’s the best quote: “some dogs just puke”). We finally had enough and took a big step ourselves.
I took him raw a little over a month ago and am cataloging our experience so others can see what this is all about. Hopefully a well documented transition can offer some encouragement to counter the inevitable resistance most will face when they take the idea to “the experts”. I’m doing my best to be scientific about this and document change, but it seems almost pointless when the results are so obvious.
Food Inc may not be objective or balanced, but it does provide valuable insight in the business of food. Sadly, I presume a documentary titled “Pet Food Inc” would be considerably more disgusting.
FDA = Federal Department of Assholes