CANADA: Teen's illness stirs pet food debate, Case prompts calls for industry-wide safety regulations

23.mar.08
Calagary Herald
Stephane Massinon

The case of a Calgary teen contaminated with salmonella from handling tainted dog treats is, according to this story, raising questions about pet food regulations.
Even the High River manufacturer of the contaminated product says it would welcome industry-wide safety guidelines on the preparation of animal foods.
Wayne Skogman, president of Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd., was cited as saying he is still unsure how its Rollover Pork Tenders made it to public sale contaminated with salmonella bacteria even after baking, but he does takes responsibility for the contamination, even if it has not pinpointed its source.
Brandon Jacklin, 13, was diagnosed with two rare strains of salmonella that made him sick after breaking up the pork tenders with his hands. His symptoms included a high fever, vomiting and severe diarrhea.
The issue of pet food regulation comes to light a year after a public scare that some pet foods could contain a poison, melamine, added by a Chinese supplier.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not regulate pet food standards and says the industry can regulate itself. However, it will lend its recall expertise when it can help, as it did with the case of the Calgary teen.
Skogman was further cited as saying his company uses and even exceeds CFIA guidelines for cooking pork for human consumption, adding, "We shouldn't have products that have salmonella in them because we cook everything that comes out of this plant. We make everything here in High River at substantially higher standards."
The only requirement his company must abide by is a food and safety audit demanded by grocery stores.
The company buys frozen pork lungs for its pork tenders and bakes them for 48 hours at 93 C. CFIA's safe cooking temperature chart says pork should be cooked to 71 C for safe human consumption.
Skogman's company voluntarily recalled the pork tenders, and a safety warning was issued by the agency.
"The regulations aren't there. We would welcome regulations if they were brought in because it wouldn't affect how we do business," Skogman said.
Since the company cannot conclusively determine what caused the salmonella contamination, Skogman says they will no longer make the pork tenders.
Alain Charette, a CFIA spokesman, was cited as saying his agency is not mandated to oversee pet foods, adding, "Last year, questions were asked if there should be government regulation," said.
"It was examined, but it was decided that we would keep the same focus on our original mandate. I don't have all the information as to why, all I have is the final decision."
The Calgary Health Region said Jacklin's strain of salmonella has been DNA matched with that found in the pet food. However, it will not comment on whether the agency should regulate pet foods.
Brandon's mother Debbie Jacklin said she always just assumed there were regulations out there that set out safety standards.
"With a case like this, where people can actually become sick, maybe there should be some sort of regulation around pet treats," Jacklin said.
She wonders if there are more cases out there like her son's.