An open letter to the FDA, from a dog.

Dear FDA,

What would you do if you were eating a burger and found out it had human meat in it? Would you shrug your shoulders and say, “eh, it happens?” Would you keep chewing and say, “it’s just a little bit of human meat?”

I’m asking because I’m a dog. I don’t like eating other dogs. But a 2023 university study found dog DNA in 2 out of 6 dog foods tested⁽¹⁾; the third time in four years⁽²⁾ something like this has happened.

Is this an oversight? A random fluke? Somebody thinking we might be in the mood for a little light cannibalism?

Unfortunately it’s just the tip of the mysterious, meaty iceberg.

Multiple university studies^(1,3,4,5,6) have found more than half of dog foods and treats tested contained undisclosed meat species that weren’t listed on the label.

I know I’m a dog so I’m not great at math… but that seems like a lot.

A 2019 statement even said you’d allow diseased animal meat in my food⁽⁷⁾, without any disclosure to pet parents? Even though the law says pet food must be “truthfully labeled?”⁽⁸⁾

Do we have different definitions of truthfully labeled?

Not to mention the recently introduced “Purr Act”⁽⁹⁾ that would give pet food manufacturers even more leeway and likely reduce transparency⁽¹⁰⁾ even further.

Look. I get it. You’ve got a lot of priorities and dogs aren’t highest on the list.

But… maybe we should be? 

Dogs have been humans’ faithful companions for the past 20,000 years. We’ve helped you hunt, guard, herd, and farm; protected you from threats; sniffed out everything from bombs to contraband; provided therapy, service, and emotional support. Anthropologists say we’re basically responsible for human society as you know it.⁽¹¹⁾

And who else is as genuinely excited to be with you as we are? We think you’re the best! Even when you pick your nose in traffic, or fart in an elevator, or don’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re.” We don’t judge you when you do weird stuff, and trust me, we’ve seen you do a lot of weird stuff.

All that to say… is it too much to ask for dogs to not be fed a load of crap?

For our food and treats to just tell the truth and follow the laws you humans set up?

So pet parents can feel confident that what’s on the label matches what’s in the bag?

On behalf of all dogs, I’m begging you to make some changes:

• Randomly test all dog foods and treats to ensure the ingredients on the label are exactly what they contain, no more, no less.
• Modernize pet food regulation so it doesn’t vary state by state, and holds pet food companies accountable for being honest with ingredients.
• And I for one would really appreciate a review of your enforcement policies to cut back on gross, random meat that no dog is asking for.

Until then, here’s some random meat you didn’t ask for:

Now your eyes understand how my taste buds feel.

I’m not mad at you, FDA. I still love you. Because I’m a dog. That’s what we do.

I hope you’ll do the right thing and help get weird unexpected meat out of my food.

Yours in Justice,

Churro

Churro is a dog meat farm survivor and Founder of NOSE OF JUSTICE, a dog treat brand working to right the wrongs of the dog world, big and small. Learn more about Churro’s epic quest for dog justice at TreatDogsRight.com.