Hey there, pet parents! If you’re anything like me, your furry companions mean the world to you. That’s why recent findings from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are sounding alarm bells for pet lovers everywhere.
So, what’s the scoop? Well, it turns out our beloved pets might be facing a potentially hazardous situation due to contamination in their food. The culprit? PFAS, those pesky “forever chemicals”, have made their way into the packaging of pet food, according to a recent study by the EWG.
The study took a deep dive into 11 different bags of pet food and found PFAS present in all of them. Some even had shockingly high concentrations! Sydney Evans, a scientific analyst with the EWG, pointed out that this poses a significant source of PFAS in our home environments.
But why are these chemicals showing up in pet food packaging? It’s likely due to their anti-stick and anti-grease properties. The packaging keeps food from sticking, stays clean, and helps preserve it for longer periods.
Now, let’s talk specifics
Cats and dogs aren’t equally affected by this contamination. For cats, the highest levels were found in Meow Mix Tender Centers salmon and chicken flavors, clocking in at over 600 parts per million (ppm). On the dog front, Kibbles ‘n Bits bacon and steak topped the list with nearly 600 ppm, followed by Blue Buffalo’s chicken and brown rice recipe at 150 ppm.
While some public health advocates are rightfully concerned about these concentrations, there’s currently no legal framework in place to regulate them.
But wait, there’s more. Another round of testing looked for specific compounds like PFBA. This one is known to cause liver and kidney issues and weaken the human immune system. While the study didn’t directly test pet food for PFAS, previous research indicates that these chemicals can migrate from packaging to food. So, it’s highly likely our pets’ food is contaminated. Plus, the PFAS can seep into our homes’ environment from the packaging.
Now, you might be wondering what’s being done about all of this. Unfortunately, none of the major pet food manufacturers have publicly committed to removing PFAS from their packaging. And despite pressure from public health advocates, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to ban these substances from food packaging. Attempts to legislate such a ban have also fallen flat in Congress.
Sydney Evans from EWG emphasizes the need for federal and state-level action to eliminate PFAS pollution sources and curb unnecessary use of these substances in pet food and household products.
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