Given the kinds of things that manufacturers add in pet foods, it is not surprising that bad things sometimes happen. The ingredients used in pet foods are often highly contaminated with a wide variety of toxic substances. Some of these are destroyed by processing, but others are not.

Bacteria of slaughtered animals as well as those who have died because of an illness, injury, or natural causes, are sources of meat and their byproducts. An animal that died on the farm ca not get to a processing plant until days after its death. Therefore, the body is often contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli.

The dangerous bacteria E. Coli was estimated to contaminate more than 50% of meat meal. While the cooking process can kill bacteria, it will not eliminate some bacterial endotoxins that are produced during growth. These toxins can survive processing and can cause disease.

Pet food manufacturers do not test their products for bacterial endotoxins.

Because sick or dead animals can be processed as pet foods, the drugs used to treat or sacrifice these animals may still be present in the final product.

Penicillin and pentobarbital are just two examples of drugs that can pass through processing unchanged. Antibiotics used in animal production are also believed to contribute to resistance to antibiotics in humans.

Mycotoxins: Toxins from mold or fungi are called mycotoxins. Modern farming practices, adverse weather conditions, and improper drying and storage of crops can contribute to mold growth. Pet food ingredients that are most likely to be contaminated with mycotoxins are grains such as wheat, corn, and fish meal.

Chemical Waste. Pesticides and fertilizers may leave residue on plant products. Grains that are condemned and not approved for human consumption due to USDA waste, can legally be used without limitation, in pet foods.

Genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified plant products are also of great concern. In 2006, 89% of the area planted with soybeans, 83% with cotton and 61% with corn in the U.S. were genetically modified. Cottonseed meal is a common ingredient in livestock feed, soy and corn are used directly in pet foods.

Acrylamide. Is a carcinogenic compound formed in processing temperatures of 250 ° F in foods containing certain sugars and the amino acid asparagine (found in large amounts in potatoes and cereals). It is formed in a chemical process called the  Maillard reaction 4, 5. Most dry pet foods contain cereal grains or potatoes, processed at high temperatures (200-300 ° F at high pressure during extrusion, foods cook in ovens at 500 ° F), which are perfect conditions for the Maillard reaction. In fact, the Maillard reaction is considered desirable in the production of pet food, since it imparts a pleasant taste, although it reduces the bioavailability of certain amino acids such as taurine and lysine. The content and potential effects of the acrylamide formation in pet foods are unknown.

When things get really bad and the problems are linked to pets eating certain foods, the company usually works with the FDA to coordinate the removal of the affected products. While many of these discoveries have been widely publicized, many have not.....

In 1995, NATURES RECIPE withdrew almost a million pounds of dry food for dogs and cats after consumers complained that their pets were vomiting and lost their appetite. The problem was a fungus that produces vomitoxin wheat contamination.

In 1999, Doane Pet Care withdrew over one million bags of dry food with Corn aflatoxin contamination. Products included Ol 'Roy (Wal-Mart brand) and 53 other brands. This time, the toxin killed 25 dogs.

In 2000, Iams removed 248.000 pounds of dog food distributed in seven states due to a DL-amino acid methionine excess, a urinary acidifier.

In 2003, the withdrawal was made by Petcurean "Go! Natural " pet food due to a circumstantial association with some dogs suffering from liver disease.

In late 2005, a recalll by Diamond Foods was announced, this time the moldy corn contained a particularly nasty fungal product called aflatoxin, 100 dogs died.

Also in 2005, 123,000 pounds of cat and dog feed were recalled due to Salmonella contamination.

In 2006, more than 5 million cans of Ol 'Roy, American food, and other dog foods distributed in the southeast were recalled by the manufacturer, Simmons Pet Food, because the cans' enamel lining was flaking in to the food.

Also in 2006, Merrick Pet Care recalled almost 200,000 cans of dog food "Wingalings" when metal tags were found in some samples.

Hard to forget the deadliest of all, in 2006, four canned recipes for dogs and cat foods were recalled by Royal Canin (owned by Mars). The culprit was an overdose of Vitamin D that caused calcium deficiency and kidney disease.

In February 2007, the FDA issued a warning to consumers not to buy "Wild Kitty," a frozen food containing raw meat. Routine testing by FDA had revealed Salmonella in the food. The FDA specifically warned about the risks of disease in human beings, not animals. There were no reports of illness or death of pets, and the food was not recalled.

In March 2007, pet foods were more lethal than ever before. Menu Foods recalled more than 100 brands including Iams, Eukanuba, Hill Science Diet, Purina Dog powerful, and many store brands including Wal-Mart. Thousands of pets were sickened (the FDA received more than 17,000 reports) and an estimated 20% died from acute renal failure caused by the food. Cats were more frequently and more severely affected than dogs. The toxin was initially believed to be a pesticide, rat poison "aminopterin" in one of the ingredients. In April, scientists discovered high levels of melamine, a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers, in wheat gluten and rice protein imported from China. The melamine had been purposefully added to the ingredients to falsely boost their protein content. Subsequent tests revealed that the melamine-tainted ingredients had been used in feed for cows, pigs and chickens and thousands of animals were quarantined and destroyed. In early May, scientists identified the cause of the rapid onset of kidney disease that had appeared in dogs and cats as a reaction caused by the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid, both unauthorized chemicals. The consequences of these withdrawals have been monitored since May 2007 so please be sure to check the FDA website for the latest updates.