Request sent 6/26/15

Message sent via Merrick Pet Food website contact form – Reference number to contact: #150626-000059

On behalf of pet food consumers, I am writing requesting information from Merrick Pet Food to substantiate the roasted meat and grilled meat images on numerous pet foods you manufacture. Per the FDA, pet food manufacturers are required to provide information to substantiate label claims – as well, FDA states that “Pet food labeling may not be false or misleading in any particular.” Just a few products with images or drawings of roasted or grilled meats on the label are Grain Free Real Buffalo & Sweet Potato, Grain Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato, Grain Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato, Grain Free Real Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe, Grain Free Real Pork & Sweet Potato, Grain Free Real Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe, Grain Free Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe, Grain Free Real Turkey + Sweet Potato Recipe, Grain Free Small Breed Recipe, Grain Free Healthy Weight Recipe, Grain Free Puppy Recipe, Limited Ingredient Diet – Real Duck + Sweet Potato Recipe, Limited Ingredient Diet – Real Lamb + Sweet Potato Recipe, Limited Ingredient Diet – Real Salmon + Sweet Potato Recipe, Limited ingredient Diet – Real Turkey + Sweet Potato Recipe. Thus, I am requesting information from Merrick Pet Food to substantiate the roasted and grilled meat images on all of your pet food products.

As well, I am requesting information to substantiate the ‘Made in the USA’ label claim on your pet foods. Per FTC requirement and per AAFCO requirement, “Made in the USA means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is all significant parts, processing and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin.” Thus, I am requesting information from Merrick Pet Food to substantiate the Made in the USA label claim on all pet foods.

To provide full transparency on our end, AssociationforTruthinPetFood.com – a pet food consumer advocacy organization – will be posting all requests for information to substantiate label claims and company responses on our website for all pet food consumers to read.

Pet food consumers await your response to this request for information.

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Consumer Advocate
Association for Truth in Pet Food

 

To date, no response received.