Mars Petcare recently opened a new pet food in Lewisburg, Ohio. The new facility was opened at the same reasons where Mars has an “pet health and nutrition center“Since 2014, otherwise known as a research facility that evaluates their pet foods on cats and dogs.
The state of Ohio welcomed the new March Petcare Pet Food Plant with open arms, giving Mars with “$ 3.5 million in grants, and Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 10-year-old job-creating tax credit“Worth another $ 1.5 million.
So…When the state of Ohio is $ 5 million invested in this pet food, will the state regulate the pet food made there?
As with most states, the Ohio Department of Agriculture regulates not only pet foods that are manufactured and sold in their state – they also promote the state to attract new agricultural companies. The Ohio Department of Agriculture's Ohio Proud Program is that gave Mars Petcare with $ 3.5 million grant money.
The same authority in most US states – the Ministry of Agriculture – performs double tasks that may conflict with each other. A division of the agency promotes the pet industry in the state; Another department of the same state agency regulates the products sold in the state.
Can an authority do both tasks without bias? Or would that authority's agency tend to look in the other direction in compliance to defend products made in its state? Like “fixing the problem, don't let it happen again, we just go away”.
History shows us that another government agency that promotes and regulates pet foods definitely looked the other way.
Conditions at Mars Petcare in Joplin, Missouri were reported to the Missouri Department of Agriculture 2012/2013. Employees at the facility informed the state agency of pesticides (phosphine) used on ingredients without following state regulations, resulting in employees' diseases and the risk of pollution of the produced pet foods.
Employees in this facility reported to the Missouri Department of Agriculture 2012 that phosphin -treated ingredients released phosphingas in the plant that exposed employees to dangerous (deadly) vapors. The request from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, obtained from Freedom of Freedom of Freedom of Freedom, made its due diligence … on paper. Missouri asked the company if pesticide dums were used at the facility, Mars Petcare -managers signed statements to the agency confirmed that no phosphine treatments of ingredients were carried out at the pet's food facility. (Red line added in pictures for emphasis.)
But other documents provided in FOIA from the Missouri Department of Agriculture proved that these managers at the pet's food facility were less than honest against Missouri Department of Agriculture. Thus, Missouri Department of Agriculture knew that the information provided by the pet food managers was false.
This second document proves that pesticide dums were added to ingredients on Mars Petcare Manufacturing Grounds.
So … Missouri Department of Agriculture had proof of pesticides for pesticides was used at the pet's food facility and had evidence that pets for pet food gave false information in their investigation (violations of state law).
And what happened? What did the Missouri Department of Agriculture do when they discovered that the managers at Mars Petcare in Joplin, Mo gave them false information, what did Missouri do about violations of the law they were aware of?
Nothing.
Missouri Department of Agriculture looked the other way.
This pet food also had a large hole in the ceiling directly over the mixer (where ingredients are combined before extrusion). With each rain, bird stools from the roof would flow directly into the mixer. I discussed this hole in the ceiling with a Missouri Department of Agriculture representative at that time he dismissed the question of: “It wasn't raining the day we inspected.”
Is there potential for conflict of interest when a state agency promotes (gives $ 5 million) and regulates pet food? The story tells us yes.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author buyers watch out, co -authors dinner pawsible
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