Fwd ~ Article (msnbc) - FDA finds unapproved genotoxic chemical in Iams Co

[Guest guest]

If everyday people weren't already questioning the quality and reliability of

these c.r.a.p. (commercially rendered and processed) pet foods before last week,

they certainly should be now. This article regards a PRESCRIPTION diet that

vets are recommending!!

 

Also, this travesty in the pet food industry following hot on the heals of the

study out of Belgium on the benefits tablescrap diets provide, surely will have

many folks returning to the rearing methods of our parents...the dog eats what

the family eats. Not ideal, but clearly more nutritious and less threatening

than the c.r.a.p. in a bag!!

 

 

 

 

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MSNBC.com

 

 

FDA finds unapproved chemical in diet pet food

Agency sent a warning letter to Iams Co., but did not ask for recall

The Associated Press

Updated: 6:33 p.m. ET March 29, 2007

 

 

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it has issued a

warning letter to Iams Co. that says some of its diet pet foods contain an

unapproved substance.

Eukanuba Veterinary Diets Optimum Weight Control/Canine dry, Optimum Weight

Control/Feline dry, Restricted-Calorie/Canine dry and canned, and

Restricted-Calorie/Feline dry and canned contain chromium tripicolinate, which

is not an approved food supplement, the FDA said.

The warning follows a recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food made by Menu

Foods after animals suffered kidney failure. That recall included some Iams

products made under contract by Menu Foods.

New York state’s food laboratory last week identified aminopterin as the

likely culprit in that recall, which involved “cuts and gravy†style dog and

cat food.

The new warning letter urged Iams to remove chromium tripicolinate from the

products but did not ask for a recall.

Chemical approved for pigs

In 1996, the FDA said it would not block the use of low levels of chromium

tripicolinate as a source of supplemental chromium in diets for pigs. But that

did not apply to other animal food. Chromium can affect the metabolism of

glucose in animals.

Iams requested that that decision concerning swine be extended to its products

for overweight pets, but FDA said it denied the request. It said a 2006 letter

from Iams did not contain sufficient information to address safety concerns.

Iams will remove the ingredient from its Veterinary Diets cat and dog food,

spokesman Kurt Iverson said. The products are sold by prescription only for

overweight pets. They have used chromium tripicolinate as a metabolism enhancer,

Iverson said.

The letter is part of an “ongoing dialog†with the FDA, Iverson said.

The FDA considers chromium tripicolinate to be genotoxic, meaning it can damage

DNA and cause mutations and tumors.

The letter was dated Jan. 8 and posted on the FDA's Web site Thursday.

 

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be

published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17862261/from/ET/