This same fumigant was recently responsible for the deaths of four children.
How dangerous is aluminum phosphide to our pets?
In Amarillo Texas on New Years Day 2017, someone used a chemical fumigant (aluminum phosphide) under a house.
Four children in that house died the next day.
“When Aluminum Phosphide is mixed with water or any moisture, it produces a toxic Phosphine gas, which is what took the lives of these occupants.
One resident of the east Amarillo home was trying to kill mice and placed the pesticide underneath their home, then applied water.
They were already getting an odor and they were trying to suppress the vapors.”
Aluminum phosphide is directly linked to pet food (and human food).
Thanks to bits and pieces learned from a lawsuit filed against Mars Petcare, we know that aluminum phosphide is commonly used to fumigate pet food ingredients.
The 2012 lawsuit claimed phoshine gases “were allowed to accumulate and disburse into the Mars plant at unsafe levels.”
An anonymous employee of the pet food plant stated “We know there was stuff coming in that was fumigated and was not listed as being fumigated that went straight into making pet food.”
In other words, this anonymous employee claimed that a deadly fumigate was added directly into the pet food.
A statement made by Mars Petcare to KOAM TV seems to confirm that it is common practice for aluminum phosphide to be added into pet food.
Julie Lawless (interesting last name) of Mars Petcare provided KOAM TV with a statement, declaring “Our products are tested by various state and federal agencies for phosphine.”
Why would Mars Petcare products (food and treats) be tested by state and federal agencies for phosphine?
State and federal agencies know that some of these fumigates end up in the pet food and they test for toxic levels.
How many times have you or someone you know opened up a new bag of pet food reporting it had an odd smell?
Is that odd smell a fumigate that was added directly into the pet food – sealed up in the bag?
Do we need to wear a hazmat suit each time we open a new bag of pet food to protect us from a toxic gas?
Is your pet going to be exposed to a toxic gas while consuming the food?
What we don’t know about the manufacturing of pet food is concerning.
What we don’t know about the fumigation of ingredients and the effects of those fumigants on our pets (and the employees making the pet food) is quite concerning.
Until it is public information – what fumigants are used, if it is common practice for some of the fumigants to go into the pet food, the results from the pet foods those state and federal agencies tested – how can veterinarians even treat a pet that become ill?
Come clean Big Pet Food…tell us everything. We deserve to know.
I will be asking state authorities and FDA about this issue at the upcoming AAFCO meeting. If I learn more, it will be provided to all.
Until we learn more, I would encourage consumers that open a bag or can of pet food that has an off smell to seal the bag/can and remove it from your home.
Report the off odor to FDA (you can do that by clicking here) and to your State Department of Agriculture (you can find your state authority by clicking here). Ask them to test the pet food for phosphine and ask for a copy of the results.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
This is beyond concerning.
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 4,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com
The 2017 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here
The List of pet foods I would not give my own pets. Click HereHave you read Buyer Beware? Click Here
Cooking pet food made easy, Dinner PAWsible
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
Note from PNM: Below is a list of products for pet consumption owned by MARS
- ADVANCE (Australia and New Zealand only)
- Buckeye Nutrition
- Cesar
- Chappi
- Dreamies
- Eukanuba
- Exelpet
- Frolic
- Good-o
- Greenies
- Iams
- My Dog
- Natura
- Nutro Products
- Pedigree
- Optimum
- Pill Pockets
- Royal Canin
- Schmackos
- Sheba
- Spillers
- Teasers
- Techni-Cal
- Whiskas
- Winergy
- Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed DNA Test
Banfield, The Pet Hospital (managed by MMI company)
VCA Inc. animal hospital chain
To see the full story about MARS Inc. plus a a list of ALL food brands made by MARS brought to you by Wikipedia Click Here.
Related: Better Known for Candy, Mars Makes a Big Bet on Pets
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