Observe: Each pet proprietor has to make their very own resolution about what to do relating to the potential of avian flu of their pet’s meals. The intention of this put up is to supply data for pet house owners to make knowledgeable choices.
We’ve realized that the FDA lately supplied an replace to pet meals business stakeholder teams relating to avian flu. Whereas AssociationforTruthinPetFood.com is an official pet meals stakeholder group representing the most important stakeholder of pet meals (pet house owners), we had been NOT invited to this replace. We’ve requested an replace for pet meals customers, nevertheless we’re not assured the company can or will present that.
We have no idea all the main points of the assembly, what we do know is that FDA Heart for Veterinary Medication seems to be involved a couple of rise in Avian Flu instances in pets. We all know they’ve ONLY examined uncooked pet meals for affirmation of lively virus, nevertheless their concern seems NOT to be restricted to uncooked pet meals. We all know the FDA doesn’t have a laboratory to check pet meals for avian flu, the company is counting on the USDA laboratory (Nationwide Veterinary Providers Lab). The FDA is doing minimal testing of pet meals, solely testing uncooked pet meals which have been linked to a sick or useless pet. The company is NOT performing any surveillance testing (monitoring the pet meals business).
We all know that the one take a look at at present obtainable for avian flu – the one take a look at that confirms or denies a dwell virus – is virus isolation. We all know that virus isolation testing is a problem for pet meals due to a number of components concerned. Virus isolation testing was developed to solely take a look at single ingredient merchandise – akin to meat or milk. Substances in pet meals – akin to nutritional vitamins, minerals, salts – might trigger a false damaging take a look at end result. The FDA is just not assured that the present virus isolation testing precisely confirms or denies a dwell virus in pet meals, as a result of quite a few components concerned.
The FDA is utilizing complete genome sequencing to check a constructive avian flu take a look at in a pet to the identical genome in a pet meals. As a result of the present virus isolation testing is just not dependable (as a result of a number of components in a pet meals), the company is evaluating the entire genome sequencing of an unopened pet meals and the genome discovered within the pet to find out if a recall must happen.
The FDA is telling pet meals producers they maintain the accountability to forestall a dwell virus of their merchandise, however the company admitted they have no idea how to try this but – apart from warmth remedy (cooking). FDA has advised to pet meals producers to carry a pattern of every lot of poultry components they obtain. These samples could be simpler to check (single ingredient) sooner or later ought to a criticism/report of an avian flu sick pet be obtained. FDA additionally suggests producers monitor which elements of the nation are experiencing avian flu outbreaks, and to supply their components exterior of those areas (which is near inconceivable for any producer to do).
At this time limit – FDA can’t affirm that HPP kills the virus, FDA can’t affirm that freeze drying kills the virus. Additional testing must be achieved to guarantee one or each of those processes really kills the virus.
Finish of what we’ve got realized relating to the FDA assembly with business.
The USDA is monitoring outbreaks of avian flu in poultry, cattle, wild birds, and mammals. This USDA webpage permits anybody to view statistics and maps of avian flu outbreaks. The web page seems to be up to date each two weeks.
Essentially the most present map of confirmed instances of avian flu in mammals is beneath (Could 2022 via March 25, 2025):
The black squares on the map are home cats which have been confirmed to have avian flu.
The primary confirmed case of avian flu in a home cat was in December 2022. Since that point, authorities have confirmed 126 instances by means of 3/25/25.
It’s time to concentrate (NOT panic).
As a result of the FDA has not correctly ready for avian flu being linked to pet meals, they’re at present taking part in catch-up (and taking part in catch-up with workers cuts). Pet house owners are left to fend for themselves, primarily based on NO data supplied to us by FDA.
We all know that cats are essentially the most prone to sickness with avian flu, and we all know that cats can survive the sickness. We all know that canine can purchase avian flu nevertheless they don’t present indicators of sickness.
We all know that though confirmed instances are rising, solely 126 home cats have been recognized since December 2022 out of 80 million cats within the US.
We do NOT know if the 126 confirmed instances from USDA information is correct, or if there are extra unreported instances – or what number of.
We imagine that uncooked pet meals and/or uncooked milk is NOT the reason for all 126 recognized cats. We imagine that different types of pet meals – together with kibble – has the potential to unfold the virus. We imagine FDA is conscious of this potential, in any other case their replace assembly would have ONLY included the uncooked pet meals business (as an alternative FDA invited the kibble business, the rendering business, and the uncooked business).
What you are able to do:
Pet house owners deserve some solutions from FDA to be able to shield our cats. We ask all pet house owners to jot down FDA Heart for Veterinary Medication (CVM) and request pet house owners be supplied with an replace simply as business has been supplied. Electronic mail: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov.
Whether or not the ‘what we have to know’ information is regarding or not regarding in any respect – we STILL NEED TO KNOW.
Susan Thixton
Pet Meals Security Advocate
Writer Purchaser Beware, Co-Writer Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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