Keeping our animals safe

1. F.D.A. Moves to Regulate Food for Animals
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/health/fda-moves-to-regulate-food-for-animals.html?hp&_r=0
2. Level: National
3. Category: Health
4. Content: The need for animal foods to be regulated in some way.
5. Importance: It effects not only animal safety but also the safety of those handling these foods.
6. I personally believe it is about time that there is more done to ensure the safety of animals through the foods that are provided for them. The whole issue came up after foods coming from China were contaminated with melamine, and animals all over the US died as a result of consuming these foods. Recently there was a news report somewhat related to this. Dog treats being sold in the US, coming from China seemed to be the cause of a number of dog deaths and while the exact cause was still to be determined, it is definitely worrisome. I have two 4-legged furry children, and if anything happened to them I would be devastated. I personally only buy dog food if it has been approved by AAFCO, and these foods typically say what ingredients they have in detail, and those ingredients are usually of a better quality. Those regulations are required however, and many dog foods ingredient lists simply say, "Animal meat" or something very vague like that. On that note, I read an article before about certain brands that have been known to have used euthanized dogs and cats as their protein source. Besides the fact that those practices are disgusting, it is also unknown if many of those animals have diseases, and many of the filler grains are old and molded. If you guys have animals, and treat them like your children, perhaps this would be a good thing to look out for. When you buy your foods, make sure that they are AAFCO approved. Also, another benefit to the FDA regulations, is an increased safety for the people that handle these foods. Cross contamination is a problem in any setting where food is being handled, and many people may not realize that feed bags that they handle may be contaminated with salmonella or other bacterial pathogens. Increased regulation is a good safety measure for us, as well as the animals we are feeding.