FDA proposes rules to make animal food safer
10/25/2013WASHINGTON — Amid incidents of pets dying from dog treats, the Food and Drug Administration is proposing long-awaited rules to make pet food and animal feed safer.
The rules put forward today were not the direct result of this week’s problem. They stem instead from a sweeping food safety law passed by Congress almost three years ago. Like rules proposed earlier this year for human food, they would focus on preventing contamination before it begins.
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The announcement comes as the FDA says it hasn’t yet determined a cause of almost 600 dog deaths believed to be linked to pet jerky treats imported from China.
The proposed rules would require those who sell pet food and animal feed in the United States to follow certain sanitation practices and have detailed food safety plans.