In September 2007, after the 2007 pet meals recall – the deadliest pet meals recall in historical past – Congress wrote legal guidelines meant to forestall one other catastrophe.
The legal guidelines Congress gave us – “Guaranteeing the Security of Pet Meals” required FDA to ascertain (1) pet meals ingredient requirements, (2) set up pet meals processing requirements, and (3) replace pet meals labeling to incorporate “dietary and ingredient data.” Congress required FDA to finish these pet meals security necessities inside 2 years (by September 2009).
The unique legal guidelines from 2007, Click Here.
The up to date legal guidelines from 2018 (particulars on replace beneath), Click Here.
However #1…
The FDA accomplished the pet meals processing requirements (merchandise #2) – developed inside the Meals Security Modernization Act – in September 2015. This half was accomplished six years previous the deadline Congress gave them.
However #2…
Yr after 12 months FDA by no means accomplished Congress’s requirement of creating pet meals ingredient requirements (merchandise #1). Lastly in 2018, one thing occurred on this challenge (however not one thing good). Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky launched an addendum to an unrelated invoice that utterly deleted the requirement of pet meals ingredient requirements. We learned through Freedom of Information Act documents acquired by Kohl Harrington (Pet Fooled), that FDA, AFIA (pet meals business commerce affiliation), and a number of members of AAFCO all labored on this addendum submitted to Senator Paul that deleted our promised pet meals ingredient requirements.
And however #3…
The third a part of Guaranteeing the Security of Pet Meals required FDA to replace pet meals labeling. Seventeen years AFTER Congress required the work to be accomplished we nonetheless look forward to label updates. (Congress established a September 2009 deadline for completion.) To present day, FDA has NOT up to date pet meals labels.
For 17 years, FDA has ignored the deadline established by Congress.
For 17 years, Congress has carried out nothing to comply with up with FDA to offer pet homeowners what was promised in 2007.
The final public replace – offered on the US authorities web site Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – was in 2017.
Notice beneath the part “Motion” it states “Subsequent Motion Undetermined”. In different phrases, pet meals label updates that may profit pet meals shoppers sits in FDA limbo.
AAFCO has labored on up to date pet meals labeling – Pet Meals Label Modernization – BUT the updates are to not be carried out till 2030 (21 years previous the deadline Congress established). AAFCO’s updates should not affiliated with what was required by Congress of FDA (federal legislation pet meals label updates), AAFCO pet meals label updates can be state legislation. That’s…if they’re ever carried out (there are quite a few rumors we’ve got heard that particular person states are refusing to implement the updates).
Every week in the past (June 17, 2026), we despatched FDA the next e mail:
“21 USC 2102: Guaranteeing the security of pet meals, (a) (2) states:
Not later than 2 years after September 27, 2007, the Secretary of Well being and Human Providers (referred to on this chapter because the “Secretary”), in session with the Affiliation of American Feed Management Officers and different related stakeholder teams, together with veterinary medical associations, animal well being organizations, and pet meals producers, shall by regulation establish- (2) up to date requirements for the labeling of pet meals that embody dietary and ingredient data.”
“Are you able to present particulars to what FDA has carried out relating to this? What ‘up to date requirements for the labeling of pet meals’ has FDA accomplished to present day?”
The FDA Middle for Veterinary Drugs has not responded to our questions.
(We all know the reply, we simply needed the FDA to confess it.)
We encourage all pet homeowners to jot down their Representatives in Congress. Instance letter beneath.
After the 2007 pet meals recall, Congress handed Guaranteeing the Security of Pet Meals which partly required FDA to ascertain “up to date requirements for the labeling of pet meals that embody dietary and ingredient data.” Congress established the deadline for pet meals label updates as “Not later than 2 years after September 27, 2007.” However, nearly 17 years previous the deadline Congress established, FDA has NOT COMPLETED this pet meals security requirement.
On my behalf, and for the hundreds of thousands of pet homeowners in our state – please comply with up with FDA asking them why they’ve ignored the necessities of 21 USC 2102: Guaranteeing the security of pet meals. I want to be supplied with a duplicate of their response to you.
On my behalf, and for the hundreds of thousands of pet homeowners in our state, I ask you to demand the FDA promptly set up pet meals labeling updates that embody vitamin and ingredient data as required by 21 USC 2102.
Thanks.
Will FDA Middle for Veterinary Drugs ever set up pet meals label updates “that embody dietary and ingredient data”?
It definitely doesn’t appear like it.
Susan Thixton
Pet Meals Client Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Discover Wholesome Pet Meals in Your Space Click Here
The 2026 Checklist
Our trusted ‘checklist’ of pet meals. Click Here to study extra.
The 2026/27 Deal with Checklist
Susan’s Checklist of trusted pet deal with producers. Click Here to study extra.
Affiliation for Reality in Pet Meals is a stakeholder group representing pet meals shoppers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend conferences and voice client issues with regulatory authorities. Click Here to study extra.
