In April 2001, State Departments of Agriculture announced that “The FDA approved an irradiation process that can be used on all animal feed and feed ingredients, including pet food and treats. This process can reduce the risk of contamination from all strains of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella organisms can cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea in people and pets’.
‘Irradiation is a process in which products are exposed to sources of ionizing radiation which cause chemical, not nuclear, changes similar to other conventional cooking or preservation methods. It has already been approved for use on a variety of human foods. Extending this process to animal feed and feed ingredients will not only increase the safety of the feed for the animals consuming it, but to people who handle animal feed and feed ingredients. Irradiation is a useful tool for reducing disease risk’.
‘Irradiation treatment compliments, but does not replace, the need for proper food handling practices in the production, processing, and handling of animal feed and pet foods including treats. Pet owners need to practice safe food handling practices after handling pet treats, including washing hands thoroughly in warm water and with soap after any contact’.
Studies have shown that irradiation affects the nutrient content of certain foods, destroying or denaturing essential nutrients, and possibly creating harmful radiolytic break-down products, the safety of which has not been determined. Yet the food and drug industry alliance is pressuring the FDA to approve the irradiation of animal products to help reduce the high incidence ( 1 in 4 persons annually) of food born illnesses that are caused in large part by the cruel conditions under which livestock and poultry are kept in confinement animal feeding operations across the US, none of which are organically certifiable.
Thanks to the Australian government insisting that a batch of imported pet food from Canada should be irradiated and many cats becoming ill and dying, we know that food irradiation is unsafe.
The pet food company involved sent out the following press release in November 2008.
UPDATED, NOVEMBER 28, 2008
ORIJEN CAT FOOD | AUSTRALIA
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS IN AUSTRALIA
Champion Petfoods Ltd. has voluntarily recalled ORIJEN cat from Australia as a precautionary measure until definitive testing is complete and the cause of the cat deaths is verified.
The recall is restricted to AUSTRALIA ONLY and was issued in response to reports from the Australian veterinary community of a number of cats showing neurological symptoms after reportedly consuming ORIJEN.
We have sent a Champion Petfoods representative to Australia to investigate the problem first hand and conduct face-to-face consultations with Australian veterinarians.
With unlimited scope, we have fully engaged to thoroughly and completely investigate every possibility linked to the problems in Australia.
WHAT WE KNOW
A total of 6 pallets of ORIJEN cat food pet food were sold through Australian pet specialty retailers between February and October of 2008.
This shipment represents less than ¼ of 1 percent (0.25%) of our total production of ORIJEN cat foods during this nine month period.
Irradiation is unique to Australia and ORIJEN is not irradiated in any other countries or markets. While human foods are typically irradiated between 5 and 10 kGY, ORIJEN cat foods were irradiated at levels exceeding 60 kGY.
Irradiation is known to reduce the vitamin content of dry cat food. Tests conducted in Canadian laboratories have shown that ORIJEN foods irradiated at 50 kGY resulted in an immediate decrease of Vitamin A content exceeding 75%. Champion Petfoods Ltd, was unaware of the irradiation process for imported cat foods with fresh ingredients
Research findings of a 2007 study published by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists www.vetpathology.org/misc/terms.shtml determined that the feeding of a gamma-irradiated diet of 35-45 kGY was associated with the development of the same conditions as are reported in cats in Australia.
No equivalent cases are reported outside of Australia.
ABOUT ORIJEN
ORIJEN is high in long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA) which are particularly susceptible to breakdown under the irradiation process, which in turn causes the release of the free radicals thought to cause the symptoms seen in the Australian cats.
At government-certified laboratories in Canada, Australia and the USA, we have conducted complete and comprehensive nutritional assays of our foods including those actually sold in Australia as well as the corresponding control samples retained in our factory.
RESULTS: ALL NUTRIENTS PRESENT AS EXPECTED. SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN VITAMIN A LEVELS FROM IRRADIATED SAMPLES.
At Canadian laboratories, we have conducted complete and comprehensive toxicology tests for the presence of
all heavy metals (including but not limited to arsenic, lead and all forms of mercury), all forms of PCBs, alfatoxins, vomitoxins, ochratoxins, t-2 toxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, enterobacteriacae, salmonella and melamine.
RESULTS: NO TOXINS FOUND.
At the University of Michigan’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, we have conducted comprehensive chemical screenings of our foods sold in Australia as well as the corresponding control samples retained in our factory for 173 toxins including but not limited to polycyclic aromatics and benzenes, pesticides, disinfectants and antioxidants and industrial pollutants. RESULTS: NO TOXINS FOUND.
Conducted tests on oxidative bi-product levels (a measure of the production of free radicals from irradiated samples) on ORIJEN cat foods irradiated at varying levels.
RESULTS: THE PRODUCTION OF OXIDATIVE BY-PRODUCTS IN ORIJEN CAT FOODS INCREASES SUBSTANTIALLY WITH INCREASED LEVELS OF IRRADIATION.
WHAT’S NEXT?
We are returning to Australia for further consultations with Australian vets.
Conducting controlled tests of ORIJEN packaging at various and high levels of irradiation to test for the possible release of toxins from packaging materials.
Establishing a research fund with the objective of adding to the current body of research on the link between irradiation and disease in cats.
Reach out to the Australian families affected by this regrettable circumstance.
CHAMPIONS PETFOODS’ PRODUCTS
Champion Petfoods is a boutique producer of world-class pet foods from fresh regional ingredients. Unlike multinational pet food makers, we focus on ingredients fresh from our region including eggs, chicken, turkey and a variety of wild-caught fish that are passed as fit for human consumption. Union Regulation 1774 that mandates all meat ingredients in our foods are produced from animals passed as fit for human consumption.
We sell only what we produce in our own facilities – none of our foods are co-packed, and all are produced in our very own award-winning factory here in Canada.
Our foods meet or exceed every known international regulation or pet food standard, including European Union.
WHO WE ARE?
We are a family-owned Canadian pet food producer with a 25 year record of food safety that is committed to producing ‘world-class pet foods from fresh regional ingredients’.
Our foods are developed upon the notion that companion dogs and cats are deserving of the same care and respect as human companions.
We sell only what we produce in our own facilities – none of our foods are co-packed, and all are produced in our very own award-winning factory here in Canada.
Our foods meet or exceed every known international regulation or pet food standard, including European Union Regulation 1774 that mandates all meat ingredients in our foods be produced from animals passed as fit for human consumption.
We remain committed to on-going research into this case with the hope that our findings can be used to better inform the international community on the potential effects of irradiation on nutrient dense dry cat food.
9503-90 Avenue,
Morinville, Alberta
CANADA
T8R 1K7
phone. 780 939.6888
email. customerservice@championpetfoods.com
www.championpetfoods.com
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The following research study (that I have abbreviated) confirmed that this tragedy could have been avoided by not feeding cats irradiated food. Irradiating and marketing any other kind of pet food that had no potentially harmful- when- irradiated Omega 3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid ingredients would be tantamount to selling a nutrient- deficient product. Adding more artificial supplements to make up for the consequences of pet food irradiation may profit the chemical engineering profession and pharmaceutical industry, but have serious unforeseen consequences as documented in several books and articles ( go to http://www.twobitdog.com/DrFox/ for details).
Biological Sciences: Neuroscience
Extensive remyelination of the CNS leads to functional recovery
I.D. Duncan1, A. Brower2, Y. Kondo1, J. Curlee Jr.3, R. Schultz4
Department of Medical Sciences1, Department of Pathobiological Sciences4, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706;
Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory2, 445 Easterday Lane, Madison, WI 53706; and Harlan Laboratories3, PO Box 44220, Madison, WI 53744, Madison, WI
Corresponding Author:
Dr. Ian D. Duncan,
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin-Madison
2015 Linden Dr
Madison, WI 53706
Phone (608) 263-9828
Fax (608)
duncani@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
. Here we describe a novel model in the cat in which severe neurologic dysfunction including ataxia, paresis, paralysis and vision loss, is seen in pregnant cats fed an irradiated diet. Removal of this diet results in delayed but complete neurologic recovery associated with extensive remyelination along the entire spinal cord and throughout the optic nerve. Axons remain largely intact, proving that remyelination alone of large areas of the CNS can restore function.
Analysis of the irradiated diet for macronutrient, minerals, vitamins and fatty acids compared with non-irradiated diets showed no significant differences.
Clinical chemistry examination from affected cats (hematology, blood biochemistry, urinanalysis) were all within normal limits. A final feeding trial of two irradiated commercial diets compared to the same diets that were autoclaved (15 cats/group) showed that around 90-95% of pregnant cats on the irradiated diets developed neurologic disease; those that ate more diet developed disease earlier and more severely. Non-pregnant cats (i.e. males and offspring) never developed neurologic disease.
A previous report in cats fed an irradiated diet showed some similar changes to those described here, with widespread white matter vacuolation18.
18. Cassidy JP, Caulfield C, Jones BR, Worrall S, Conlon L, Palmer AC, Kelly J (2007) Leukoencephalomyelopathy in specific pathogen-free cats. Vet Pathol 44:912-916.
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In conclusion, it should be noted that many human foods and spices are routinely subjected to irradiation, and while there is increased damage with increased irradiation, the question remains; can there be any low enough level of irradiation not to cause some changes in the molecular structure of foods and food ingredients (spices and herbs) that could affect both food quality and safety? If it is to kill bacteria, then it must be powerful enough to damage cell walls and protein structures. Eating irradiated. ‘mummified’ food would not seem wise for man nor beast!
On this day of writing I read an article in the Veterinary Record ( Vol.164: p 304-305, 2009) reporting that that dogs infected with E.coli 0157 had passed this often fatal disease to humans, especially family members. While this kind of zoonotic disease might seem to justify irradiating all potentially exposed foods to irradiation, the best prevention would be to house, feed and husband dairy cows and beef cattle under more biologically rather than economically determined criteria and conditions.
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In June 2009 the Australian government announced a ban on the irradiation of pet foods.
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IONOPHORE FOOD CONTAMINATION RISKS
Many drugs are used to control diseases and to boost productivity in factory farmed animals, one group of drugs called ionophores being put into chicken feed to control an enteric disease called coccidiosis. There were sufficient quantities of one of these drugs called salinomycin identified in the following reported outbreak of poisoning in cats to cause serious neurological problems, not unlike the effects of irradiated food on their nervous systems.
Veterinary Pathology, Vol 36, Issue 2 152-156, 1999
Salinomycin-induced polyneuropathy in cats: morphologic and epidemiologic data
J. S. van der Linde-Sipman, T. S. van den Ingh, J. J. van nes, H. Verhagen, J. G. Kersten, A. C. Beynen and R. Plekkringa
In April 1996, an outbreak of toxic polyneuropathy in cats occurred in the Netherlands. All cats had been fed one of two brands of dry cat food from one manufacturer. Chemical analyses of these foods, stomach contents, and liver and kidney of affected cats revealed contamination with the ionophor salinomycin. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected from 823 cats, or about 1% of the cats at risk. In 21 affected cats, postmortem examination was performed. The affected cats had acute onset of lameness and paralysis of the hindlimbs followed by the forelimbs. Clinical and pathologic examination indicated a distal polyneuropathy involving both the sensory and motor nerves.