There are companies who broker spoiled, rotting foods. Salvage food brokers. There are even state regulations governing these businesses. And guess what industry they sell this waste to?
The state of Texas website defines a Salvage Food business as a firm that buys or sells distressed or reconditions distressed merchandise. Texas defines ‘distressed merchandise’ as “any food, drug, device, or cosmetic that has been subjected to prolonged or improper storage, loss of label or identity, or abnormal environmental conditions such as extremes in temperature, humidity, smoke, water, fumes, pressure, or radiation that are due to natural disasters or otherwise, or that may have been rendered unsafe or unsuitable for human consumption or use for any other reason.”
Food that as been “rendered unsafe or unsuitable for human consumption” is salvaged…sold to other industries. So who would purchase foods that were subjected to extreme temperature or radiation? Who would purchase foods found unsafe for human consumption? It appears pet food will gladly purchase salvage food.
The website A1 Seafood says…(bold added)
“If you are looking for a list of pet food manufacturers and you found us it’s more than likely because you have a product that HACCP deems you can’t responsibly sell it for human consumption. Why destroy the product when you can sell it to the pet food manufacturers? You can spend all day making phone calls and sending email’s to various pet food manufacturers but trust me you will never have the years of contacts we have.”
Under the above statement we find this image –
and the words…
“We turn your trouble into revenue $”
This company is stating they will help businesses sell waste meats and vegetables – for a 8% fee – to pet food manufacturers.
The website for Midwest Ingredients states (bold added): “There are few things we enjoy more than hearing that someone was told to “call Midwest Ingredients because they can find (or sell) anything”. This indicates our ability to discover a ready market…or a reliable source of supply…for any item that can be used for feed purposes. We are familiar with and can easily work with the Research and Development stage in your industry.”
Under ‘Services’ the Midwest Ingredients website states…(bold added)
“PET FOOD
Many manufacturing companies rely on Midwest Ingredients, Inc. to find a place in the market for their waste stream. We are committed to working closely with the manufacturer to ensure their specifications are met. We are able to help these manufacturers through our commitment to service, proven reliability, and extensive resources.”
Have you ever seen on a pet food label any mention of “salvage” food ingredients? Has any pet food label ever stated “Made with Salvage Chicken (exposed to radiation and stored in a hot warehouse)”? Has any pet food manufacturer ever told us they purchase “waste stream” ingredients?
The pet food consumer is shown glossy pictures of choice cuts of meat and fresh vegetables on the pet food label…but what guarantee is the consumer given that those labels are truthful, honest depictions of the ingredients used in the pet food? None.
Salvage spoiled food – unfit for human consumption – ground and cooked into a pet food – sold to pet food consumers with no warning or disclosure statement is wrong. It’s illegal. It’s a crime that – for decades – federal and state regulators and pet food manufacturers pretend doesn’t exist or states that it doesn’t matter (Compliance Policies that allow a long list of horrendous wastes to become ‘suitable for use in animal food’). It is mind boggling no one of authority (state and federal regulators) cares what pets or other animals are consuming.
And they wonder why we don’t trust them.
My thanks to one of you out there in pet food world that ‘outed’ this salvage industry to me!
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
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