Pet food transparency push returns to FDA

Pet food transparency push returns to FDA

Susan Thixton and the Association for Truth in Pet Food have filed a petition asking the FDA to reconsider its denial of a 2022 citizen petition that sought mandatory disclosure of feed grade ingredients on pet food labels. In an April 14, 2026 post, Thixton said the group acted after waiting 1,333 days for FDA’s response to the original filing, which argued that labels should distinguish feed grade ingredients from ingredients that meet human food standards. The new reconsideration petition says FDA has not shown evidence for its position that there is no meaningful nutritional difference between, for example, feed grade condemned poultry and USDA-inspected poultry, and it asks the agency to either provide that evidence or require clearer label disclosure. (truthaboutpetfood.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the dispute lands at the intersection of labeling, client trust, and nutrition counseling. FDA says pet food ingredients must be listed by their common or usual names, while AAFCO’s model framework and state regulators shape much of the practical label review system. Thixton’s petition challenges whether current naming conventions blur the line between feed-grade materials and ingredients that meet human food standards, a distinction that can influence how pet parents interpret quality, safety, and value at the shelf. Even if FDA does not reverse course, the filing adds pressure to a regulatory environment already focused on label consistency and modernization. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for whether FDA opens or updates the public docket, issues a formal reconsideration response, or signals any broader movement on pet food label transparency and ingredient naming. (fda.gov)