AVOID RECALL SPECIAL
WHEY
POWDER
RECALL
A severe public health alert over
whey powder is ballooning in the
US after the recall of bags of the
food ingredient following positive
salmonella testing. The United
States Department of Agriculture’s
Food Safety and Inspection Service
has weighed in on the health
scare, prompted by Minnesotabased
Associated Milk Producers
recalling 50lb and 25kg bags of
powder produced between May
1 and June 14. Whey powder is
an ingredient regulated by the US
Food and Drug Administration
and is used in a number of foods
to modify texture, thicken foods,
gel foods and enhance solubility
and transportability. “AMPI dry
whey powder is not sold directly
to consumers, but is used as
an ingredient in a number of
foods,” the company says. “It is
sold directly to manufacturers
and also distributed by brokers.
A limited amount was sold for
animal feed.” The precautionary
recall was prompted by a positive
test for salmonella during routine
tests, although no products that
were shipped to the marketplace
tested positive for the bacteria.
An investigation is underway to
determine the cause of the positive
test result. No illnesses have
been reported so far. Other recent
recalls due to whey powder include
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers;
Mondelez Global Ritz cracket
sandwiches; Flower Foods Swiss
rolls; and Pinnacle Foods’ Hungry
Man Chipotle BBQ sauced boneless
chicken wyngz.
GRAIN FREE DOG FOOD
UNDER SPOTLIGHT
Bison and chickpeas…wild boar and sweet potatoes…kangaroo
and lentils. ‘Grain free’ dog food is becoming exotic and more
like the diets of their owners, but dense proteins teeming with
legumes – considered better for gluten-sensitive bellies – are
being investigated as a cause of canine heart disease.
The Food and Drug Administration says
there could be a link between a diet rich in
peas, lentils, chickpeas and potatoes, and
dilated cardiomyopathy, which weakens
the heart and causes it to enlarge. Typically
seen in large breed dogs like Dobermans and Great
Danes, other breeds such as golden retrievers, doddle
mixes, Labs and Shih Tzus are now being afflicted…
and the only link is boutique, exotic-protein, grain-free
diets. Veterinary cardiologist and North Carolina State
University lecturer Darcy Adin has documented 36 dogs
with suspected nutritional DCM, and says the possibility
that expensive food, lovingly chosen, could make an
adored pet devastatingly ill is sending shudders through
dog owners. However, no recalls have been made yet,
and researchers do not know why these diets may be
problematic — whether it’s the absence of grains, the
presence of legumes or something else. Cummings
School of Veterinary Medicine and Tufts University's Lisa
Freeman says this is an opportunity to view grain-free
diets sceptically. “Contrary to advertising and popular
belief, there is no research to demonstrate that grain-free
diets offer any health benefits over diets that contain
grains,” she says. “Grains are an important source
of protein and other nutrients in many meat-based
pet foods. Grains have not been linked to any health
problems except in the very rare situation when a pet
has an allergy to a specific grain.” Grain-free canine diets
began to gain traction in the wake of the 2007 recalls of
pet foods contaminated with melamine from China. By
2011, grain-free dog food accounted for 15% of sales
in American pet specialty stores (nearly US$1 billion).
By the end of last year, it had exploded to 44% of the
market (nearly US$2.8 billion in sales) and continues to
grow. GfK global market research analyst Maria Lange
says most pets are seen as fur babies, so owners say
"‘maybe my dog is allergic to grains, so just to be safe, I’ll
feed him grain-free.’ But in some ways it’s a marketing
ploy to catch the consumer’s eye.” Research has just
begun on these uncharacteristic cases of DCM, and one
group - cocker spaniels and golden retrievers - do reveal
low taurine levels. Investigators speculate that legumes
may interfere with the dog’s ability to make taurine or
perhaps absorb it. But taurine levels in other affected
dogs, including mixed breeds, are normal, which puzzles
researchers. For now, the pet food industry is holding
its breath, says Pet Food Institute chief executive Dana
Brooks. “While the exact cause of the reported illnesses
has not yet been identified, PFI shares the belief that any
pet illness should be taken seriously, and we remind pet
owners to consult their trusted veterinarians with any
questions about their pet’s health and well-being.”
22 SEPTEMBER 2018