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FDA ISSUES SAFETY GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF RAW MEAT
FOR PET DIETS

FDA has announced the availability of draft guidance for industry on the manufacture and labeling of diets that contain raw meat, or other raw animal tissues, for consumption by companion animals (pets) and captive non-companion (zoo) animals.

The draft guidance, published in the Federal Register, provides important safety and nutritional information for firms choosing to manufacture and market raw meat and raw animal tissue products for animal food.
The draft guidance was prompted by the increased use of raw meat foods for carnivorous and omnivorous companion and captive non-companion animals by owners who may not be aware of the safety and nutritional issues involved, and to protect pet owners and pets from risks involving food safety and nutritional deficiency.

Diets for carnivorous and omnivorous animals containing raw meat or other raw animal tissues have been on the market for many years for use by zoos, mink farms, dog racing facilities, and other professional establishments. Some of these products may have included meat and other tissues from mammals or poultry that have died other than from slaughter or have otherwise been unfit for human consumption.

FDA presumes that these purchasers are aware of the potential risk for using such products, from both a food safety and nutritional deficiency perspective and can take measures to mitigate those risks. However, the new trend is toward use of raw meat diets for companion and captive non-companion animals by owners who may not be as aware of the potential for harm.

Under current law, these products are classified as "foods" and do not require pre-marketing approval or
certification. Although objective data derived specifically from commercial raw meat pet foods are sparse, the potential for risk to public health from such products is significant given the microbiological results from studies of ingredients that could compose such products, and the limited sampling of commercial raw pet foods.

In addition to bacterial contamination issues, the draft guidance warns about the dangers of dental or gastrointestinal trauma when bone is included in other than ground form. It also recommends measures to minimize contamination and disease transmission through the use of irradiation, proper transport and storage of product by manufacturers, distributors, and retailers; participation in USDA's voluntary inspection program; and the development and implementation of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program by manufacturers.

Comments and suggestions regarding this document should be sent to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the Docket No.02D-0468.

The draft guidance may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cvm.

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