A crowdfunded study of pet food contaminants by Association for Truth in Pet Food (ATPF) published this week revealed pet foods with fungal toxins, bacterial pathogens and products with spoilage organisms.

Image/DOD
Image/DOD

Some areas of note include at least two pet foods containing high risk levels of mycotoxins-Meow Mix Tender Centers and Beneful Original dog kibble.

According to the ATPF report, “Existing studies of mycotoxin contamination in pet food have shown that day-to-day consumption of small amounts of mycotoxins can result in chronic diseases such as liver and kidney fibrosis, infections resulting from immunosuppression and cancer”.

Other results found in the study shows numerous pet foods contained dangerous antibiotic resistant bacteria the FDA terms as ‘Qualifying Pathogens posing a serious threat to public health’ like Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Streptococcus; numerous pet foods contained bacteria linked to putrefaction of meat and numerous pet food contained concerning nutrient imbalances above regulatory limits (minerals like calcium, for example).

ATPF’s Susan Thixton led the testing effort with the assistance of numerous industry experts who volunteered to aid consumers on the project. Dr. Tsengeg Purejav of INTI Service Corporation contracted various labs on behalf of consumers. All pet food products were purchased online (with the exception of one purchased from a veterinarian) and shipped directly to Dr. Purejav. Pet food samples were shipped to each contracted lab blind.

“This is history making,” says Thixton. “No one has ever taken such an up-close and thorough examination of pet food like this before – and most importantly, this was done by pet food consumers!” Thixton says the pet food testing results are “shocking”, sharing consumers donated to test pet foods for risk to pets. “Little did we know we’d find serious risks to ourselves and our human families too.”

The ATPF study was crowdfunded by 240 people who contributed more than $15,000 on the Indiegogo platform.