You have probably heard about the beef recall.The major networks have aired a video provided by The Humane Society showing downed cattle - sick/diseased cattle unable to stand - being shoved with a fork lift into the slaughter area (if you are courageous, link to the video is below).It is extremely difficult to watch and frightening to think that a unscrupulous meat processor would ignore safety protocol and endanger U.S. citizens by processing sick or diseased animals into human food.Pet owners should take special notice of this story - because even though it is illegal to process downed cattle into human food - it is legal and common practice to process downed cattle into pet food.

The FDA and the USDA classify downer cattle as SRMs - Specified Risk Materials. Meat products known to be a specified risk of spreading mad cow disease. According to federal law, it is illegal to process SRM animals for use in human food AND to be processed into ruminant (cattle, sheep, pig) feed in order to protect U.S. citizens from mad cow disease. Unfortunately, it is legal and common practice to process SRM animals into pet food. Sick or diseased animals that are known risks to humans - are processed into pet food. Mad cow disease has already crossed species into cats in Europe and mink worldwide. Are U.S. pets next?

When the FDA was considering a change in the pet food regulations, members of the cattle industry, rendering industry, pet food industry, and various other organizations lobbied the FDA either for stricter/safer regulations to protect pets - or lobbied against it.

Approving the proposal to ban all SRM materials is the Humane Society. The following is a quote from a letter from the Humane Society to the FDA. "As the country's largest animal protection organizationwe are deeply concerned about the potential impact of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) on animal health. The removal from animal feed of downers, dead stock (animals that have died on the farm), cattle showing signs of a CNS disorder, and cattle who appear rabies-suspect but test negative would add another important layer of protection since these animals have a greater incidence of BSE than the general population. There is strong evidence that cats are susceptible to BSE and we therefore urge the FDA to prohibit immediately the use in pet food of any SRMs, downers, dead stock, or cattle showing signs of a CNS disorder or testing negative for rabies. There have been confirmed cases of Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy in approximately 100 cats in Europe. Since the FDA is charged with ensuring the safety of the food cats consume, we feel it would be reckless not to prohibit the inclusion of the high risk materials enumerated above in pet food."

Opposing the proposed ban was Garth Merrick (Merrick Pet Food). Quoting his letter to the FDA dated July 28, 2004" ANPR's proposed rule to prohibit SRM's from all animal food including pet food and prohibiting materials from non ambulatory cattle and dead stock from all animal feed creates the below listed consequences of disposal of pounds that previously could be manufactured into animal feed. SRM's in cattle under 30 months of age have been estimated to be 20 pounds per head. In Texas there are four packing houses processing approximately 100,000 head per week times 20 pounds equals 2,000,000 times 52 weeks equals 104,000,000 of product that no one has discussed what to do with. If you cannot render it for feed to be fed to chickens, swine or pet food, then you have destroyed a system that currently works. We are the original recyclers. These numbers are only for Texas; when you consider the other lower 47 states, the consequences are inconceivable as to what the health hazards could be if these products are not processed the way they are currently being done."

The FDA has not banned SRM materials from use in pet food or pet treats.

Do you think SRM materials - sick, diseased, or dying animals should be allowed to be processed into dog food or cat food? If you can stomach it, the Humane Society's hidden camera video is a vivid example of the health condition of SRM cattle. You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch'v=SWmAJlwLnQI Notice the downer cattle and then decide if you think these animals would be suitable for use in any food.

I am doubtful that any pet owner would consider a sick, diseased animal safe to feed their dog or cat. Personally, if a livestock animal is classified as a Specified Risk Material - I don't care who has the expense of properly disposing of the material. Just don't put SRMs into pet foods. Pet food should not be used as the recycling outlet for an otherwise un-sellable product.

Pet foods and pet treats that could contain SRM animals would contain the ingredients by products, meat and bone meal, meat meal, animal digest, and/or animal fat. Please read your pet food and pet treat labels.