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Response from Senator John Ensign
- 12-1-2008
- Categorized in: Pets
December 1, 2008
Ms. xxx xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Street
Las Vegas, Nevada xxxx
Dear Ms. xxxxxx:
Thank you very much for taking the time to contact me about contaminated pet food and animal welfare. I value the opinions of every Nevadan and am always grateful to those who take the time to inform me of their views.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently investigating the facts surrounding the contaminated pet food that killed pets. Thus far their investigation has determined that common ingredients in pet food were tainted with melamine. Melamine is an industrial chemical made from coal that is illegal for use in either human or animal food in the U.S.
The USDA and FDA have traced the source of the tainted pet food to Chinese suppliers and are currently banning 100% of imported Chinese wheat gluten. The USDA and FDA have worked with pet food manufacturers to recall over 100 brands of dog and cat food across the nation. The FDA intends to continue working with manufacturers to ensure that contaminated products are removed from the market and consumers are informed of potential dangers. Please rest assured that I will continue to monitor the activities of the USDA and FDA to ensure that the food supply for our pets and animals is safe.
I am pleased to tell you that I voted for an amendment to the FDA Authorization Bill (S. 1082) in favor of stricter production and labeling standards on pet food. This amendment, which passed overwhelmingly, would give pet owners like us more information about what we are feeding our animals and enable us to make informed decisions about the health and nutrition of our pets.
As a veterinarian, I share your concerns about the welfare of animals. During my career in the Senate, I have sponsored bills to increase penalties for illegal cockfighting and dog fighting, to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption, and to stop the interstate shipment of exotic animals. I am proud that the Humane Society of the United States recognized my work in advancing animal protection policies by honoring me as Legislator of the Year in 2005.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on matters of importance to you. Should you have any other questions or comments or would like to sign up for my monthly newsletter, please do not hesitate to either write or e-mail me via my website at http://ensign.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
JOHN ENSIGN
United States Senator
JE/JP
Ms. xxx xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Street
Las Vegas, Nevada xxxx
Dear Ms. xxxxxx:
Thank you very much for taking the time to contact me about contaminated pet food and animal welfare. I value the opinions of every Nevadan and am always grateful to those who take the time to inform me of their views.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently investigating the facts surrounding the contaminated pet food that killed pets. Thus far their investigation has determined that common ingredients in pet food were tainted with melamine. Melamine is an industrial chemical made from coal that is illegal for use in either human or animal food in the U.S.
The USDA and FDA have traced the source of the tainted pet food to Chinese suppliers and are currently banning 100% of imported Chinese wheat gluten. The USDA and FDA have worked with pet food manufacturers to recall over 100 brands of dog and cat food across the nation. The FDA intends to continue working with manufacturers to ensure that contaminated products are removed from the market and consumers are informed of potential dangers. Please rest assured that I will continue to monitor the activities of the USDA and FDA to ensure that the food supply for our pets and animals is safe.
I am pleased to tell you that I voted for an amendment to the FDA Authorization Bill (S. 1082) in favor of stricter production and labeling standards on pet food. This amendment, which passed overwhelmingly, would give pet owners like us more information about what we are feeding our animals and enable us to make informed decisions about the health and nutrition of our pets.
As a veterinarian, I share your concerns about the welfare of animals. During my career in the Senate, I have sponsored bills to increase penalties for illegal cockfighting and dog fighting, to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption, and to stop the interstate shipment of exotic animals. I am proud that the Humane Society of the United States recognized my work in advancing animal protection policies by honoring me as Legislator of the Year in 2005.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on matters of importance to you. Should you have any other questions or comments or would like to sign up for my monthly newsletter, please do not hesitate to either write or e-mail me via my website at http://ensign.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
JOHN ENSIGN
United States Senator
JE/JP
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