To review the data of FDA recalls, warning letters, and 483’s and then use this information to not only understand past trends, but to develop continuous improvement plans as we look to the future.

Recent surveys have shown that 70% of all US homes have at least one pet, compared to 40% of US homes with at least one child under 18 years old. Indeed, 95% of respondents consider their pet to be a member of the family and 91% state that they spend more on a quality food for their pet. As consumer expectations of pet food continue to increase, regulatory focus and enforcement in pet food has also increased. Understanding and addressing previous regulatory findings will allow companies to avoid future scrutiny.

From a consulting perspective, implementing continuous improvement programs is always more effective when conducted proactively rather than reacting to regulatory enforcement. Proactive consulting services are also less stressful and less costly to the client.

FDA and many equivalent state agencies have options to receive automated updates on enforcement activities and regulation updates. Continuous monitoring of these allows us to “see” current FDA thinking in near real-time. This combined with understanding enforcement trends is helpful in making meaningful changes and improvements in a company’s food safety programs and culture.