U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  1. Home
  2. Regulatory Information
  3. Search for FDA Guidance Documents
  4. CVM GFI #122 Manufacture and Labeling of Raw Meat Foods for Companion and Captive Noncompanion Carnivores and Omnivores
  1. Search for FDA Guidance Documents

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

CVM GFI #122 Manufacture and Labeling of Raw Meat Foods for Companion and Captive Noncompanion Carnivores and Omnivores November 2004

Download the Final Guidance Document
Final
Docket Number:
FDA-2002-D-0148
Issued by:
Guidance Issuing Office
Center for Veterinary Medicine

Foods for carnivorous and omnivorous animals containing raw meat, or other raw animal tissues, have been on the market for many years for use by zoos, mink farms, dog racing facilities, and other professional establishments. Some of these products may have included meat and other tissues from mammals or poultry that have died other than from slaughter or have otherwise been unfit for human consumption. Products containing tissues from animals that have died other than by slaughter are adulterated under Section 402(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and animal tissues otherwise unfit for human consumption may be adulterated if not further processed to remove pathogenic contaminants.

The scientific literature indicates that feeding raw meat products carries a risk to human and animal health that is significant given the microbiological results from studies of ingredients that could compose such products and the limited sampling of commercial raw pet foods themselves. Therefore, for firms choosing to manufacture and market raw meat and raw animal tissue products for animal food, guidance is warranted for how such products could be manufactured and labeled in order to protect animals and people coming in contact with the animals and the animal’s food from risks involving food safety. This guidance also addresses other risks posed by raw diets, such as nutritional deficiency, and is designed to help ensure compliance with other aspects of the law administered by FDA.

Submit Comments

Submit Comments Online

You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))

If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:

Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2002-D-0148.

Questions?

 
Back to Top