Where in the world ARE THEY COMING FROM???
Many people hope there are government officials responsible for the "regulations" imposed on the US pet food industry. Most people also believe these officials are the members of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and that the association is working for them.
The President of AAFCO visited my web site and instead of saying "Thank you for bringing these issues to light", immediately came to the defense of the pet food industry and tried to discredit what I am presenting. His actions as well as his words reinforced my feelings (expressed in an article at this web site) how AAFCO, from the top down, is an association apparently working for the pet food industry (Please note: AAFCO is an association - it is not a government agency). It also illustrates another of my views (expressed in a different article at this web site) why we need some new laws which will force government agencies to protect pet food buyers, not the pet food industry.
After his visit AAFCO's President sent me some interesting E-mail - I responded - He responded - I responded - and our E-mail debate went on for two months.
Reading all of our E-mail debate may be tedious and even boring - BUT ENLIGHTENING!
For example - To make a point in our debate I quoted some wording from a Purina brochure. The President of AAFCO - in his response - declined to acknowledge the wording from the Purina brochure - justifying his actions with: ". . . the large manufacturers are protected by the Constitutionally guaranteed right of speech, which doesn't require that speech to be truthful or with reason."
This led me to respond with: "If I went to a Chief of Police to report a person was taking money with the use of a gun I wonder if I would get lectured about the right to bear arms in this country? It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword. Any time a company uses misleading claims - in writing - to take money they should be treated the same as people who take money at gun point. The point I am trying to make at my web site is that pet food companies are taking money by using misleading claims to sell their products. This should be stopped."
He (a person who is wearing two hats: President of AAFCO and a government official) responded to another E-mail argument by saying: "I am not with the pet food industry, I regulate them (rather vigorously here in Texas)." But to date has taken no action other than to continue his lecture to me about the "Constitutionally guaranteed right of speech" of the pet food industry.
I believe that some times a persons actions can speak louder than their words.
Now for those of you who are interested in taking a look at both sides of the issue, and reaching your own conclusions I am posting uncut and uncensored copies of all our E-mail correspondence. Click Here To View It.
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