I'll add another petition to this list. Feel free to change/modify in any way. The original is on my website:

www.letsgetmotivated.typepad.com


AAFCO

Shannon Jordre

AAFCO Chairmen of the Ingredients Definitions Committee
Division of Compliance
Food and Drug Administration/Center for Veterinary Medicine, HFV-235
7519 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855

sjordre@cvm.fda.gov

FDA

U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Veterinary Medicine
7519 Standish Place
Rockville Maryland 20855-0001

State of Illinois

Representative Danny Davis

1526 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515

Senator Barack [edited]

713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510

E-mail: http://[edited].senate.gov/contact/


Senator Dick Durbin

309 Hart Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

E-mail: http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Other States

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://www.house.gov/Welcome.shtml

April, 2007

As people who care for and care about pets,

We are outraged by the recent recall by Menu foods and saddened by stories of thousands of pet deaths. We feel that now is the time for the AAFCO and FDA to establish higher standards for the pet food industry.

We request:

1. New labeling requirements

· Product labels should list not only the company that’s marketing the food, but also the name of the manufacturing company with full addresses and 800 numbers.

· Product labels should also list the ingredients’ country of origins.

2. Warnings on labels for potentially harmful ingredients

· Labels should list warnings of potentially harmful ingredients, as documented by research.

For example, potentially harmful ingredients in most pet foods include synthetic additives/preservatives found in many pet food brands (i.e., MSG, Formalin, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Sodium Metabisulfate, Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Benzoate, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin) and other ingredients such as Red Dye No 40, Lead, Artificial Flavorings, and By Products.

· There is a need to publicize research findings pertaining to all of these ingredients.

3. Frequent tests of randomly selected food

· Frequent testing of randomly selected food to ensure that food is safe and high quality even after the ingredients change.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, there is no mandatory inspection of ingredients used in pet food manufacturing. The law allows the pet food industry to use what are called "4D"sources - that is, meat tissues, skin and insides of animals that are dead, dying, disabled, or diseased (AND NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION) when they reach the slaughterhouse. See http://www.carefreepet.com/article7.html for a discussion and summary of effects.

4. Research database of pet foods

· A database that is maintained and updated with information about scientific research concerning every pet food in the market.

These standards are necessary to ensure the well being of all pets! We now need to use our voices to protect pets! 

Thank you,

Name: ________________________________________

Address (please include zip code):

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

E-mail: ____________________________________________________