On Nov. 4, attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit against JM Smucker alleging that the company mislabeled 9Lives, Kibbles ‘n Bits and Meow Mix cat food as healthy despite containing titanium dioxide and identifying perfluorinated and polyfluorinated cat foods. . PFAS).
The lawsuit alleges that Smucker “knew or should have known that titanium dioxide is harmful to health and increases health risks from a variety of sources…” and that Smucker “sold pet food containing titanium dioxide and PFAS, abused the public’s trust and did not inform consumers of the consequences of consuming the toxin.”
On November 3, the Environmental Working Group released a report saying that a lab working for the group found PFAS on 11 packages of seven brands of pet food, but not on the pet food itself.
Manufacturers use thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) in products ranging from pet food bags to ammunition, climbing ropes, guitar strings and artificial turf. In pet food bags, PFAS helps the bag resist moisture, grease and oil and otherwise keep the product fresh.
Beyond their ubiquity, the question is how slowly PFAS are degraded in the environment and in animals. Humans and animals ingest PFAS and these chemicals remain in their bodies for years, if not a lifetime. Scientists have identified some health risks of PFAS, although not necessarily those used on pet food packaging. These risks include an increased risk of testicular and kidney cancer and infertility.
In the US, ten states currently ban the use of PFAS in food packaging, according to the Pet Food Institute, and this is likely to happen by 2023.
On December 31, 2022, New York State announced that no one is authorized to distribute, sell, or offer for sale any food packaging containing intentionally added PFAS.
Beginning January 1, 2023, the State of California will not allow anyone to distribute, sell, or offer for sale any food packaging that contains PFAS intentionally added or contains 100 ppm or more PFAS.
In Vermont, effective July 1, 2023, manufacturers, suppliers, or distributors are prohibited from making, selling, offering for sale, distributing, or distributing food packaging that intentionally contains unlimited amounts of PFAS.
In Connecticut, effective December 31, 2023, manufacturers or distributors are prohibited from selling or for promotional use of state food packaging that intentionally contains any amount of PFAS during manufacture or distribution.
The Maine PFAS Product Reporting Act, effective January 1, 2023, requires manufacturers to report the intentional addition of PFAS to products or product components, including packaging, to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The lawsuit also concerns titanium dioxide in pet food. Titanium dioxide refracts light to create intense white pigmentation. Titanium dioxide has been used in human products, including toothpaste, sunscreen, candy, cake icing, plant-based chicken substitutes, and dairy products, according to USA TODAY.
Pet food manufacturers use titanium dioxide to whiten poultry or fish products and prevent graying, writes Dr. Greg Aldrich, professor and coordinator of the pet nutrition program at Kansas State University, in his pet food column. This chemical is also used to make objects look like bones or mimic the marbling of fat.
In 2014, the environmental group Friends of the Earth published a study claiming that the size of titanium dioxide in food and other products meant that the chemical was a nanoparticle, meaning it was less than a hundred nanometers in size, which could pose a health hazard. . However, this report was refuted by other researchers, according to The Conversation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows less than 1% titanium dioxide by weight in foods.
In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that titanium dioxide is no longer considered a safe food additive, and the European Commission announced that the chemical is also no longer allowed for use in animal feed, including pet food. An article published in the journal EFSA concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered harmless due to its ability to accumulate in animals and subsequently cause genotoxicity, especially in long-lived or breeding animals, including humans. However, the authors of the article note that scientists have not done many studies on the effects of titanium dioxide in pet food.
Aldridge writes that most studies on the effects of high doses of titanium dioxide in dog and cat food have been done in rodents and extrapolated to pets.
Tim Wall is a senior reporter for WATT Global Media covering the dog, cat and pet food industry. His work has been published in Scientific American, Live Science, Discovery News, Honduran Weekly, Global Reporter and other publications. He holds a master’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in natural resources from the University of Missouri-Columbia, as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Wall served in the Honduras Peace Corps from 2005 to 2007, where he coordinated with the city government of Moroselli to set up a municipal waste collection system, teach environmental sciences, translate for medical teams, and promote sustainable agriculture, among other projects.
Read about the cat food industry, supply chain challenges and more in the November 2022 issue of Petfood Industry magazine.
The premium price hasn’t stopped pet owners from looking for the highest quality products for their pets.
Post time: Dec-19-2022