The AAFCO meeting ends with a shocking announcement from FDA. At the start of the Pet Food Committee session, the FDA announced that the new administration has prohibited the agency from participating in any event, and prohibited the agency from speaking to the public. At that point, all FDA representatives left the meeting. They did not answer any questions, they just left (even though they were scheduled to lead two different discussions during this session). FDA participated in the AAFCO meeting yesterday (Tuesday January 21, 2025), but stopped their participation with this announcement today (Wednesday January 22, 2025).
The Associated Press stated “acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink told agency staff leaders Tuesday that an “immediate pause” had been ordered on — among other things — regulations, guidance, announcements, press releases, social media posts and website posts until such communications had been approved by a political appointee.”
We don’t know what this means for pet food, and will have to wait to see how this plays out. As more is learned, pet owners will be updated.
The remainder of the Pet Food Committee session was uneventful. AAFCO discussed their Pet Food Label Modernization efforts, new videos they have produced to help educate the public to pet food label updates that are scheduled to apply within the next few years.
During the Model Bill session (this is the final step before an item can be adopted by states into law), a very concerning issue was passed despite discussion that pointed out flaws.
The issue, of significant importance to the safety of pet food, was requirements of manufacturers to keep and maintain records of pet food batches. The AAFCO “Record Keeping” requirement that was passed:
Of concern is item (c). Pet food manufacturers will only be required to keep manufacturing records for one year. But, what about pet foods that have a two year or three year shelf life? AAFCO was challenged on the “one year” requirement with pet foods that could remain on store shelves years longer by Dr. Cathy Alinovi of Next Generation Pet Food Manufacturers Association, but AAFCO basically ignored her.
The HUGE concern for this new AAFCO rule, it would allow pet foods with shelf lives longer than 1 year to destroy pertinent tracing information. Should pets become ill or die from the pet foods, there could be no manufacturing data to trace the ingredient source or distribution of a contaminated product.
AAFCO made a very short-sighted decision with this that we hope no pet pays for in the future.
In Ingredient Definitions Committee, Black Soldier Fly Larvae has been approved for adult cat food. Lions Mane mushroom was set to become an accepted “common food” in pet food, until the National Animal Supplements Council protested (and protested).
And the presentation regarding cultivated meat – which appears to be in the future of pet food – did not provide many details. They did provide this slide with a general overview of how this product will be made:
The next AAFCO meeting is scheduled for August 2025 in Omaha, NE.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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