14 replies to this topic

[Cathy]

Pet food has been identified again as the source of a Salmonella outbreak in people in the U.S. This may be simple cross contamination in the home, or other factors. Do pet food companies practice HACCP or other formal food safety systems? What trade association or group would know?

[Charles Chew]

Generally, as in all food establishments, food safety system for pet food processors is a voluntary exercise except for certain countries or states, HACCP implementation is mandatory by legislation.
Evidently the huge recall in the US some time in early 2007 on China-Made pet foods was a wake-up call. IMO, all pet foods should be as safe as human foods.

[Charles.C]

Dear Cathy,

I guess yes, based on one datum -

Legal wise for the US I don't know.

For entry to EU seems to be an official requirement -
http://www.defra.gov...ducts/ABPR4.pdf

Rgds / Charles.C

[Charles Chew]

A good review -

http://www.cidrap.um...salmonella.html

[Simon]

Check this out Cathy.

FEDIAF Guide to Good Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Pet Foods

By the way FEDIAF is The European Pet Food Industry Federation

Regards,
Simon

[Penard]

Agree with you all. In Europ we have EC 1774/2002. That's not as strict as human food but as usual you have to ensure consumer's health - you have also to keep in mind some children can eat some kibbles. You must assess your product is ok, and the legislation requires salmonella analysis - the only one pathological bacterium.

I think you have quite similar regulation in US. I'll have a look on this salmonella outbreak to give you my opinion later,

Regards,

Emmanuel.

[sirilucky]

Tips on pet food safety.
http://www.cnn.com/2...fety/index.html

[MRios]

I agree that pet food should be safe, for the sake of the pet, but if you let your kid eat pet kibbles, there´s lots more than Salmonella going into his mouth!
I don´t wash my hands before feeding the dog. I don´t feel motivated to do it when I watch her smell her own feces (actually, any feces she comes by). And I'm pretty sure kibble eaters do so, right out of the dog´s slobbered bowl. ;p

[Julie]

I work for Pet Food Company in the UK. It is an International Company. We have factories in USA, Canada, Asia, Europe, Africa, Russia.

We are going for ISO 9001 and 14001. Hope this explains that we are maintaining the standards of a human food manufacturing unit.

[Julie]

At our factory, we eat kibbles to make sure they taste good and all. I do not eat since I am vegetarian.

[Simon]

At our factory, we eat kibbles to make sure they taste good and all. I do not eat since I am vegetarian.

What are kibbles Julie?

[Julie]

Sorry, it is dry dog food in form of pellets. Does it make sense now?

[Simon]

Sorry, it is dry dog food in form of pellets. Does it make sense now?

Yes it does Julie. Sounds tasty.

Did you say the staff have to taste them?

[Julie]

yes, they do taste it to make sure the kibbles are tasting right.

[Charles.C]

Dear Julie,

Interesting information indeed.

Now I understand the origin of the term "(self) destructive testing"

I once had a similar duty for canned dogfood / catfood and the latter always tasted better (somehow).

I am curious as to how you evaluate the relative competence of staff regarding tasting ability. I presume it is necessary to initially prepare reference (dog) standards.

Rgds / Charles.C