Noted pet food safety advocate, Susan Thixton (Truth About Pet Food), has filed a Citizen Petition with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of pet owners.
In her petition, dated April 17, 2024, Thixton requested that, “…the Commissioner of Food and Drugs … promptly inform the public to (sic) current pet food investigations in the same manner the agency has updated the public in the past.”
According to the petition, “[b]eginning in approximately December 2023, pet food consumers began reporting serious health issues with their pets (cats and dogs) directly related to pet food. To date of this Petition, more than 2,600 pet owners have reported serious health concerns with their cat or dog. Symptoms reported are very similar; bloody diarrhea, bloody vomiting, in many instances seizures. More than 500 pet deaths have been reported by pet owners. One brand of pet food in particular, pet owners have reported 1,679 cat and dog illnesses, 23% of those reports (390) resulted in the death of the pet.”
The petition requests a release of adverse event reporting data, a summary of the status of the FDA’s investigation, and issuance of a public notice, including an encouragement for pet owners to report any illnesses to the agency.
In support of the request, the petition cites several precedents, including the recent public alert for lead in applesauce products, the investigation into possible links between pet foods and canine heart disease, and the years-long investigation into the link between certain jerky treats and pet illnesses.
Thixton has included a link to the full text of the Citizen Petition in her story, “How Much More Serious Does It Have To Get?”
Individuals who wish to file support for this petition can do so by emailing the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine using this email address and Subject Line:
Email: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
Subject Line: Docket ID FDA-2024-P-1916-0001
An editorial note
I was one of the first individuals to make the FDA aware of the spike in pet illnesses/deaths being reported on social media, and the allegations linking those illnesses/deaths to Purina ProPlan foods for dogs and cats.
eFoodAlert posted its first story on this subject on January 4, 2024, and has on a number of occasions requested comments and feedback from FDA media coordinators on the status of the investigation. Unlike the previous investigations referenced in Thixton’s filing, no information has been forthcoming from the agency, either in the form of a public release or advisory, or in the form of a comment for publication.
Earlier today, I contacted the Center for Veterinary Medicine for comment on the filing of the Citizen Petition.
An agency spokesperson replied, “The FDA is reviewing the citizen petition and will respond directly to the petitioner.”
In the information vacuum created by the absence of a public advisory, there has been a range of speculation on social media, including accusations that the FDA is “in the pocket” of Nestlé Purina and other large pet food manufacturers, and that the agency is working with these manufacturers to suppress evidence of a significant problem.
Such speculation can only hurt the credibility of the FDA in its handling of this and other pet food safety investigations.
While it is understandable that the FDA does not want to fuel panic, the agency’s total silence is having the opposite effect.
In the interests of the health and safety of our pets, of transparency, of keeping the public informed, and of FDA’s own credibility, eFoodAlert fully supports the Citizen Petition filed by Susan Thixton of Truth About Pet Food on behalf of pet owners.
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News
Available from all major on-line retailers, including:
eFoodAlert 
My dog started having seizures after we started feeding her purina dog food in Nov. First seizures were in dec. Vet bill over $250 for xrays etc. NOTHING found. She had more and it was not till we read about purina that we took her off of purina and threw it away. So far no seizures.
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my dog has had two seizures so far from eating purino beneful.
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