The ingredient Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated is often utilized in pet meals as a supply of vitamin Okay…however…the ingredient is ONLY legally permitted to be used in poultry feed.
We requested the FDA and AAFCO why this ingredient is utilized in pet meals however not permitted for pet meals.
Though it took the company 2 months to reply, the FDA acknowledged:
“Thanks for contacting FDA’s Heart for Veterinary Medication (CVM). In your electronic mail from January 26, 2026, you inquired about FDA taking motion on cat meals that embrace menadione sodium bisulfite. You additionally point out that the ingredient is simply permitted for poultry feed.
Menadione sodium bisulfite advanced (MSBC) and menadione are prior sanctioned as sources of vitamin Okay exercise in poultry feeds at 2-4 g/ton. Nevertheless, the FDA has not initiated regulatory motion towards different animal meals, together with pet meals, that include menadione or MSBC as sources of vitamin Okay exercise. FDA is unaware of any obvious animal security considerations if these substances are utilized in accordance with good manufacturing processes.
Extra info relating to vitamin Okay may be discovered at: Vitamin K Substances and Animal Feed | FDA.
As well as, in 2021, AAFCO convened a panel of specialists to offer coverage suggestions for the usage of Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated (MSBC) for meant makes use of past poultry feed. The panel really useful that MSBC could also be used as a secure and appropriate supply of Vitamin Okay exercise within the meals for all animals in the USA in accordance with good manufacturing and feeding practices.”
AAFCO responded way more promptly, stating:
“The quick reply to your query is regulatory discretion by many state regulators, however the security rationale behind that call is laid out starting on p.340 of the OP in Suggestions for Use of MSBC in Animal Feed.”
So…the ingredient Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated is NOT permitted to be used in pet meals, however everybody has agreed to not implement regulation as a result of they imagine the ingredient is secure to incorporate in pet meals.
Why not simply change the regulation and approve the ingredient to be used in pet meals?
In 2021, AAFCO shaped an “expert panel” to “present coverage suggestions for the usage of Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated (MSBC) for meant makes use of past poultry feed.”
The professional panel supplied AAFCO an in depth report that features historic use of the ingredient, security research, and extra. “The panel really useful that Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated could also be used as a secure and appropriate supply of Vitamin Okay exercise within the meals for all animals in the USA in accordance with good manufacturing and feeding practices.”
However once more…why go to the hassle of forming an professional panel, compiling analysis, getting ready an in depth report…and nonetheless not formally approve the ingredient to be used in pet meals? The method to alter the authorized definition of Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated to incorporate use in pet food, cat meals and different species would take just some minutes (ten minutes at most) at an AAFCO assembly. Why are they not doing this final easy step? As an alternative counting on enforcement discretion (ignoring regulation)?
Private opinion: Sometimes, in a case like this when the ingredient is already permitted for one species and the one problem left to debate is – is it secure for extra species, AAFCO does precisely what it did on this occasion – kind an professional panel. However in each different occasion to my information, after the professional panel offers their opinion – AAFCO brings the dialogue again to a gathering and provides their approval for extra species or denies their approval for extra species. AAFCO usually finishes the method, makes it official in regulation.
However on this case, they didn’t. 5 years after the professional panel declared the substances secure…no motion by regulatory as been taken to legally approve the ingredient to be used in pet meals. It doesn’t make sense.
The reply could be so simple as they only haven’t gotten round to approving Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complicated in pet meals. However…it has been 5 years because the professional committee declared the ingredient secure to be used in pet meals.
It’s a puzzle.
Susan Thixton
Pet Meals Security Advocate
Creator Purchaser Beware, Co-Creator Dinner PAWsible
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