Tennessee State Ag Inputs Team Monitors Pet Food Safety and Ingredients
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Most pet owners want the best for their furry, feathered or scaly friends. But when opening a can of dog food or offering a treat as a reward, you might not think about the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) inspectors behind the scenes who checked to ensure those products are safe and delivering the nutrition they promise. Food for pets and livestock is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but individual states also do their own inspections to screen for potential toxins and confirm that products contain the percentages of nutrients indicated on labeling. In Tennessee, inspectors from the Ag Inputs section of the Department of Agriculture’s Consumer and Industry Services Division routinely visit the state’s pet food retailers and manufacturers to obtain samples for laboratory analysis.
The samples are tested for protein, fiber and fat to guarantee that pet owners get what they believe they’re paying for, says Ag Inputs supervisor Eric Brady. “If you have a dog that you love and you know that it requires a 24% protein, 14% fat and 3% fiber ration, the guaranteed analysis ensures that’s in there, so you’re not buying a product that’s misrepresented,” he explains.
Safety First
When testing for toxins, the laboratory looks for mycotoxins (poisonous molds that can grow on certain agricultural crops, including corn and peanuts) and salmonella. “Mycotoxins are very weather-dependent,” Brady explains. “If corn gets stressed, it has the potential for mold growth, which could lead to it becoming poisonous.”
Only products containing chicken are analyzed for salmonella, as salmonella poses a risk to both animals and humans who may handle the food. “All our samples are collected to ensure the safety of the feed for its intended use and for folks that are feeding it,” he says.
According to TDA feed program manager Bethany Henderson, when a sample doesn’t pass muster, Ag Inputs issues a stop-sale order on the product. “We keep records to make sure manufacturers are up to par,” she says. “If they get several stop-sale orders, we can dig in and see what’s going on.” Henderson notes that such occurrences are extremely rare. “The vast majority of animal food tested in Tennessee is within compliance.”
Consumer Confidence
With a national rise in pet ownership spurred by coronavirus quarantines, an increasing number of consumers are purchasing pet food products. And Andrew Baisley, general manager of Cumberland Farmers Co-op in Crossville, says he appreciates that the state’s inspection efforts ensure those shoppers can feel confident in what they’re buying.
“It seems like more and more people want to make sure that not only their food is safe, but that their animals’ food is safe, too,” Baisley says. “I’m sure if the public were more aware that the state is doing all it can do to make sure they get a quality product, they’d probably be glad of that.”
Brady pays regular unannounced visits to the Co-op, which sells dog food and cat food in addition to feed for cattle, horses, sheep and goats. After he takes samples, he labels the merchandise with stickers to show those products are being tested by TDA. “I’ve had a few customers ask about that, but most people don’t even know it happens,” Baisley says.
See more: Partnerships Keep Food Safe in Tennessee
The process is simple and offers an invaluable service to the community. “The state has always been really easy for me to work with,” Baisley shares. “They’re allies in this. We might think of inspectors sometimes as being our enemy, but not in this case at all. They’re there to help us.”