FDA Warns IAMS About Supplement in Food for Overweight Dogs and Cats
Thanks to Yahoo News for this article.
FDA warns Iams about food for fat dogs and cats
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to pet food maker Iams about an additive in some of its products for fat dogs and cats.
The letter, dated January 8, 2007, and posted on the FDA Web site on Thursday, said that several Eukanuba-brand dry and canned pet food products made by The Iams Company, a unit of Procter & Gamble Co., contain chromium tripicolinate, which is only allowed as a source of supplemental chromium in swine feed.
The company will take chromium tripicolinate out of future formulations of its Eukanuba Veterinary Diets Optimum Weight Control and Restricted-Calorie dry and canned products for obese dogs or cats, spokesman Kurt Iverson said.He pointed out that the FDA had not ordered a recall of the products now in pet owners’ homes or on store shelves.
Since chromium tripicolinate has not been tested for safety in dog and cat food, products containing the chemical are considered adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA letter said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said on Thursday it would hold a news conference Friday to urge the FDA to expand its March 16 recall of some wet pet foods to also include dry varieties subject to complaints until they are tested for safety.
The recall, ordered after several pets died of kidney failure, applied to millions of pounds of wet pet foods made by Canada-based Menu Foods and sold under more than 50 labels including Iams and Eukanuba.
The letter issued by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine also said Iams had earlier tried to demonstrate that chromium tripicolinate is non-genotoxic, but the agency determined that data submitted by the company did not sufficiently address its safety concerns.
Genotoxic compounds can cause genetic mutations or tumors, according to the FDA Web site.
Chromium tripicolinate is known to boost metabolism in both humans and animals, Iverson said.
“The FDA wanted additional studies to prove certain things but those would require us to go beyond our animal welfare policy, so we’ve chosen to take that ingredient out,” he said.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptNEW YORK (Reuters) – The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to pet food maker Iams about an additive in some of its products for fat dogs and cats. The letter, dated January 8, 2007, and posted on the FDA Web … [...]
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptNEW YORK (Reuters) – The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to pet food maker Iams about an additive in some of its products for fat dogs and cats. The letter, dated January 8, 2007, and posted on the FDA Web … [...]
everyday this gets worse. savvy’s acting a little sick and is going to see the vet. she eats none of the brands that have been recalled SO FAR but who knows where this is going to end?
Right now we’re not eating any dog food or cat food at our house. We are preparing our own from organic chicken, eggs, vegetables and oatmeal. Cinnamon seems to be doing better with this than any dog food she ever ate. We have consulted our veterinarian, and she thinks Cini is responding well to the food adjustment. We will make a decision about returning to pet food when the dust settles.
Is chromium tripicolinate found in Prescription type dog foods like Hill’s Prescription W/D canned foods…??? Thanks
Bee
The problem seems to be that form of chromium is approved for pet food. It may be okay but it has not been okayed by the FDA.
With all the panic amongst the pet food recalls, if you have any questions about any brand of food, you should phone that company. Iams sent an immediate recall to every place, store, or vet that sold any questionable menu food. I phoned them concerning the chromium tripicolinate issue, and their response is that this is a supplement that is used to help metabolize glucose. It is approved for use in humans and pigs, but not dogs and cats by the FDA. The FDA confirmed this. It was not tested on dogs and cats. Testing according to the FDA is determining the amount of a product that it takes to harm someone. Iams has been using this product in their foods for the past 14 years with no bad side effects. This was not good enough for the FDA. They wanted Iams to test to the highest degree to cause harm. Iams refused, and that is why they are pulling this ingredient. In the mean time, if you use slim fast, eat breakfast bars, or take weight loss vitamins, look at the ingredients. Chromium tripicolinate is in there. Remember, there is always a second side to every story!
so if the chemical is in iams and not approved why haven’t they recalled iams food….or have they bacause they haven’t at the stores were we buy or dog and cat food
I’ve not seen this question answered. Is there some reason that, essentially, ONE company is making all these, possibly, contaminated dog foods?
I thought these brands were different manufacturers with different products. I mean, are all these products essentially the same stuff and just marketed and priced differently?
Are there substantial differences at all?
OR…
Is it just another case of us being the poor duped public…again?
I am taking my Malamute in for a sonogram on Thursday. She has been eating Optimum Weight control for 5 years. She has been sick and was hospitalized for a couple of days due to high calcium levels. Vet believes it to be cancer since levels would not return to normal range after 48+ hours of fluid therapy. Please respond if you have had a similar experience and have been feeding this food for several years. I am curious to see if there is a link or if my Mal’s age is the reason for the possible cancer.