PROTECTING OUR FURRY FRIENDS BY KEEPING PET FOOD SAFE

Everyone wants their pets to remain happy and healthy. One important way to ensure their well-being is to make sure the food they eat every day is safe. That means paying attention to pet food recalls and ensuring pet food is stored properly. Let’s take a look at some ways to make sure the food our pets eat remains fresh and nutritious.

FDA Recalls Help Consumers Protect Their Pets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating all pet foods. In addition, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) require that all animal foods be safe to eat, be produced under sanitary conditions, and contain no harmful substances. To accomplish their mission, the FDA regularly issues lists of recalled products.

Some recall issues can be quite severe. In 2007, for example, more than 150 brands of pet food were recalled because FDA laboratories found melamine or melamine-related compounds in samples. Melamine is an industrial chemical that has no approved use as an ingredient in animal or human food in the United States. Unfortunately, the contaminated food led to multiple illnesses in animals, and the deaths of at least four cats and one dog.

Keep Pet Food Safely Stored

In addition to heeding recalls, consumers should adequately store their pet’s food, so it doesn’t become contaminated. The most common causes of pet food spoilage are exposure to air, which feeds harmful bacteria, excess moisture in the environment, which causes mold, and high temperatures, which lead to rancidity. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, even dry foods may harbor bacteria, notably salmonella.

To keep food safe, seal it in opaque, airtight containers and store it in a closed, climate-controlled space that shields the food from contact with oxygen and light. Ideal storage locations are a dark, cool pantry or even the refrigerator. Just like human food, pet food will break down and spoil over time, so owners should be sure to use it before the expiration date or discard it. If you notice a sour or rancid odor or see signs of moisture, mold, or bugs, be sure to discard the product immediately. And, of course, if your pet exhibits symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, or lack of energy, stop feeding it the pet food and contact your veterinarian.

Polygon Group Helps Keep Pet Food Safe at the Source

In addition to heeding pet food recalls and properly storing food, it is essential to prevent issues at the source. Polygon Temporary Climate Solutions has the expertise and machinery to help ensure pet food manufacturers and others can operate under ideal conditions. Polygon Group has a proven track record in creating optimum climates, providing expert advice on all types of problems relating to excess moisture, and controlling specific environmental conditions. We offer our clients custom-designed environmental control solutions for every stage of the production process.

Read more at polygongroup.com