Though it may be hard to believe, many of the aspects of the laws regarding nutritional panels and accurate food labeling originally came from the pet and animal food industry and an organization known as AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials).
There are many regulatory reasons for monitoring the food we feed our pets and farm animals. The bottom line is that the animal feed industry must take its role seriously. There are harsh laws against adulteration.
Wilbur-Ellis Company Processing Facility
In Texas, William Douglas Haning, a manager at the Wilbur-Ellis Company, has pleaded guilty to an ongoing conspiracy to introduce adulterated and/or misbranded food into pet foods, as well as pleading guilty to money laundering. It has so far cost the company $4.5 million in back fines.
According to the FBI:
“For years, William Douglas Haning orchestrated a scheme similar to charging filet mignon prices for ground beef. He unjustly lined his own pockets at the expense of unsuspecting consumers.”
The FDA chimed in and said:
“U.S. consumers – and especially pet owners – look to the FDA to ensure that their pets’ food is not only safe and wholesome, but is also accurately labeled. When criminals introduce adulterated and falsely labeled pet food into the U.S. marketplace, they put the health of companion animals at risk.”
Widespread Fraud
We must remember, like it or not, that pet food not only finds its way into companion animal consumption, but inadvertently or intentionally to humans. Not all that long ago, Chinese suppliers were found guilty of exporting pet food ingredients containing chemicals used to make plastics. Many animals died as the result of this activity and lawsuits ensued.
Haning admitted that he intentionally shipped adulterated ingredients to pet food processing plants and co-packers (companies that sell products under several brands) to companies in Indiana, Connecticut, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. This fraud occurred for at least six years.
The scam involved Haning’s company selling ingredients labeled as chicken or turkey meal (premium protein sources) when in reality they were selling animal by-products and feather meal which are as high in protein (for a label claim) but nutritionally empty.
The fraud scheme began in 2008 and went to 2014 when Haning and his family members sold out to Wilbur-Ellis. In the deal, Haning remained as a sales manager, so he kept his role as the buyer for the food ingredients that went into the foods.
Obviously, cheap by product ingredients labeled as premium ingredients carry higher profit margins. When Haning sold his company to Wilbur-Ellis, they seemed more profitable than they were. In fact, more profitable by more than $4 million.
However, the bigger picture involves the millions of pounds of pet food that were mislabeled and were nutritionally lacking. Wherever the food ultimately wound up, it was adulterated and potentially harmful.
Lack of Oversite
Haning had no oversite to his activities. It was not until he left the company and profits dropped that something suspicious was discovered. In a situation where there is no oversite, people can choose to be ethical or unethical, and Haning chose to intentionally mis-represent the ingredients intended for the pet food products.
He had a need to make money, pure and simple. In his greed, he could only see profit and not the effect of his actions. In fact, he might have rationalized that since the intended “consumer” was a dog or cat, it made no difference what he sold.
Companion animals are usually likened to family members. They enhance our lives. It would also be naïve of me not to think that sometimes humans willingly, or are forced, by economic conditions, to eat pet food. In fact, estimates range as high as twenty-five percent.
Haning may have rationalized his actions but in the end, he could have cared less about those victimized by his actions. He will soon face sentencing.
LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS!
