Several months ago I sent a letter to the White House asking President Obama to hold foreign pet food/treat manufacturers to the same standards as U.S. pet food/treat manufacturers. Unfortunately, I received a typical political response. Here’s what our President told me…
My letter to President Obama wasn’t the first, but it was the first that has been responded to. This particular letter pointed out that jerky treat manufacturers in the U.S. are held to a different standard than jerky treat manufacturers in China. I asked the President the question, how can U.S. companies compete with foreign companies if they are not held to the same regulatory authority? I received a response that did not address one point from my letter – it was little more than political jargon.
You can read the whole story by clicking Here, but below pretty much sums up the story…
Here was the email I sent to the White House…
Dear President Obama,
As a concerned patriotic American, I ask you how can U.S. companies compete with foreign companies if they are not held to the same standards?
Recently, an American pet treat company experienced a recall after the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a dog treat. As follow up, the FDA inspected this American company and took 87 samples. The FDA used its regulatory authority and ‘urged’ this American manufacturer and numerous private label brands to recall. No pet deaths have been associated with this American company.
However, recently a Chinese pet treat company was inspected by FDA. This Chinese manufacturer would not allow FDA to take any samples, would not provide complete ingredient information to FDA, and many of the required individuals of the company were not present – unavailable during inspection. The Chinese company wasn’t registered with FDA according to the Bioterrorism Act. The FDA used no regulatory authority – in fact, this Chinese company showed FDA their muscles and the FDA went running back home. Jerky treats from China have been linked to more than 500 pet deaths per FDA reports.
This is not right. How can U.S. manufacturers survive if importing companies are provided with selective enforcement? I’m waving the U.S. flag here. We have to have someone level the playing field. Please, Mr. President – provide U.S. companies that level playing field. Hold foreign manufacturers to the same standards as U.S. manufacturers are held to.
A patriotic American,
Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Consumer Advocate
And below is the response I received from President Obama…
WhiteHouseResponse
I truly doubt it is a “diverse opinion” that foreign manufacturers should be held to the same standards as U.S. manufacturers. If there would be a vote taken, I’m actually quite confident that a very large majority of U.S. consumers – pet food consumers in particular – believe that foreign food suppliers should be held to the same safety standards/regulations that U.S. food suppliers are held to.
It is extremely discouraging when the President or a member of Congress (or any other politician) responds to a sincere plea with little to no reference to your message. To completely ignore the message sent and provide a canned politically correct response is discouraging and leaves you with the feeling ‘they’ (regardless who ‘they’ are) are just trying to appease you – shut you up in the easiest way they can. This is not about this response from President Obama – this is about almost every response we all receive from our elected officials.
A few years ago – pet food consumers across the U.S. wrote their elected officials letters asking Congress to investigate the illegal ingredients in some pet foods (such as rendered rejected for use in human food ingredients). More than 50 different members of Congress received the same letter. Only one Senator proved he read our letter – the late Senator Robert Byrd. In fact, Senator Byrd wrote the FDA asking for details about rendered waste in pet foods. But he was the only one that did; all the rest responded with the typical politically correct nonsense that gave no mention of the topic.
Politicians make it difficult to be a proud American.
Note: On Friday August 30, 2013 – just before the holiday weekend – the USDA approved China to process chickens for human consumption. They have certainly lost their minds. Click Here to read the USDA announcement. Click Here to read statement from Food and Water Watch.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com
2013 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here
Have you read Buyer Beware? Click Here
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