Hey,
Apologies for the extra email today but I thought you’d like an update on the reports of sick and dying dogs
— and the rumors that they’re linked to dog food.
Originally related to Purina, these reports and rumors now mention seemingly dozens of dog food recipes from multiple
brands.
At Dog Food Advisor, we have a responsibility to stick with our principles of only reporting concrete facts — e.g. pet food recalls.
This is not to dispute all the reports — nor dismiss the rumors as false (remember, a rumor is just an unverified story and can be true or false) — but DFA’s influence is enormous and based on trust, so we
can’t publicly link specific dog foods with illness based on social media posts.
However, we always want the truth.
So I contacted the FDA, which had yet to speak on the matter, asking for a statement — and I got one.
You can read the FDA’s statement here.
It doesn’t tell us much, but importantly it shows the
agency is aware of the reports. Its media team also added, “When/if there is actionable information to share, the FDA will notify the public.”
It’s an undeniably reserved
approach, which is not what we saw with the rumors of a link between grain-free dog food and heart disease.
That link has remained unproven so it could be argued that the FDA statements did unnecessary damage to many dog food manufacturers, large and small. With the controversy that has ensued, including a lawsuit, perhaps the agency is exercising greater caution.
As ever, we’re just presenting the facts for you to use as you see fit. We will continue to monitor, investigate and report.
Have a great start to the week. I hope you and your dogs are well.
