The Pet Schooled Press

Years ago, I had a back and forth with FDA where the media department refused to specific whether "raw" pet food that had been subjected to HPP (high pressure pasteurization) had been subjected to a kill step or not. The FDA stated "HPP can be a kill step when effectively done, however, it must be properly validated to confirm the effectiveness in a pet food product. " I then asked FDA: Please define or provide me documents on "when effectively done" means as per FDA.  What does FDA deem to be properly validated to confirm the effectiveness in a pet food product? Does FDA approve a pet food company's use as HPP as effective or non effective before they implement this in their foods? After FDA-CVM refused to provide me further information, I filed a FOIA request with the agency for records on this matter. I eventually had to sue the agency under FOIA law, and force the agency to comply with my FOIA request. Years later, I finally have what FDA-CVM is st...

April 12, 2022 To: United States Senate Committee On Appropriations  Re: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's fiscal year 2023 budget (the following was submitted to agri@appro.senate.gov, and Angela_Caalim@appro.senate.gov was cc'd.) Daily, I am attempting to be a proactive citizen and exercise the right all Americans are told we should be proud of...which include our being a government "by the people". While I don't disagree that democracy is "messy", what democracy shouldn't be is government against the people.  In my experience over the years, that is what I have faced. I and what appears to be many others, are still facing FDA-CVM battle against us in completely unnecessary ways. I wish to testify about this regarding FDA asking for billions in their new budget.  FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) holds no regular public meetings when it comes to promulgating regulations for the pet food industry. FDA-CVM instead "sits on the b...

FDA-CVM is continuing their refusal to properly address various longstanding, and rectifiable issues. In their " 2023   Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees ", FDA writes glowingly about FDA-CVM regulatory actions. (FDA-CVM related material starts on page 172 https://www.fda.gov/media/157192/download).  FDA-CVM has continuously stated it can't meet its obligations under FOIA law because of "resources". FDA-CVM has also stated it doesn't have the resources to hold regular, public meetings. In its request for " $43 million in additional investments in food safety modernization, including animal food safety oversight ", FOIA is not mentioned. Public meetings are not mentioned. FDA-CVM does not make it known that there is significant interest from the public in these areas. The agency simply ignores the issues.  Part of my argument over the years is that FDA-CVM doesn't want, nor do they care to fix these issues. I believe part ...