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How safe are your supplements?
At a time when we are all much more aware of our foods provenance and of food safety in general, horse and pet owners are asking themselves "how can I be confident that the supplements I use are " fit for purpose"?
In 2007 American pet owners were horrified to discover the pet food they had been giving their dogs and cats was contaminated with an industrial chemical called Melamine
How can an industrial chemical get into pet food?
I will explain! Melamine is a chemical found in plastics, glues and fertilizers (remember those melamine cups, plates and kitchen work tops). Melamine is a tasteless white powder two thirds of which is Nitrogen. When Melamine is added to feed protein sources such as wheat, maize or rice gluten it increases the nitrogen levels, which in turn produces a falsely high protein level when the feed is tested.
You may say "that's not a problem, I only feed my animals on the more expensive brands of pet food, not the cheaper value brands, the food is bound to be safe! "
Well I am sorry to disillusion you but you would be wrong. In 2007 some of the most expensive and "respected" foods, including those only available through vets were found to be sourcing binding agents such as wheat gluten from China.
As a result of the contamination by melamine and cyanuric acid, thousands of dogs and cats in the USA fell ill, and it is conservatively estimated over 1500 animals died as a direct result of the contamination. The FDA reported over 8,500 calls relating to contaminated pet food. Autopsy reports of animals that died showed these cats and dogs had died from kidney failure. Melamine builds up in the kidneys like kidney stones and the animals cannot pass them.
So in the light of this episode, how can we be confident that the supplements we feed our animals and pets are "fit for purpose"?
Well I can't speak for the feed manufacturers, but I can tell you what responsible equine and canine supplement manufacturers are doing in both the USA and Europe.
Back in 2002 a group of American horse and pet supplement manufacturers formed an association to help set up a dialogue with US government bodies such as the FDA and AAFCO. This was because their businesses were threatened by complicated and erratic regulations being enforced by these government agencies.
The association is the NASC - National Animal Supplement Council, and its remit was to "improve and standardise the animal health supplement industry." To this end the NASC introduced its Quality Seal Program, whereby member companies are required to undergo a full facility audit to ensure the company complies with a set of rigorous standards for Quality Control, Adverse Event Reporting and product labelling which are required to contain warning and cautionary statements recommended by the FDA's veterinary medicines centre and the NASC's own Scientific Advisory Committee.
Only NASC member companies who have successfully passed the organisations audit are permitted to display the NASC Quality Seal badge on their product labels.
The NASC now boasts a membership of 100 companies representing over 90% of the USA's animal supplements industry with members not only from the USA but also from the UK and Canada.
Hilton Herbs is one of the NASC's founder members and is proud to hold the organisations Seal of Quality. Hilary Self the companies Medical Herbalist also sits on the NASC's Scientific Advisory Committee.
In 2007 the NASC's National Adverse Event Reporting System ( NAER's) was really put to the test when during the melamine scandal a US wide pet food product recall was instigated by the FDA.
Bill Bookout the NASC's president was contacted by the Association of Animal Feed Control officials to find out whether any NASC members products contained wheat gluten? Bill was able to type the word "wheat" into the database and was immediately rewarded with a list of NASC members whose products included wheat in any form. Bill was able to reply within minutes of the request, and readers will be even happier to hear that Wheat Gluten did not show up in any member products.
So what if you buy supplements that are manufactured outside the US?
On this occasion I can only speak for Hilton Herbs products.
In Europe supplements are governed by even more stringent regulations than the US, this is because in some European countries horses are classed as agricultural animals and can therefore enter the human food chain!
Any product sold in mainland Europe that is ingested by horses must be manufactured in a UFAS - Universal Feed Assurance Scheme accredited facility. This facility must also be independently audited by an EFSIS - European Feed Safety Inspection Service inspector. Hilton Herbs sells products throughout Europe and has for the last 5 years been accredited by UFAS and has successfully undergone annual inspections by EFSIS. Our food safety checks require even our Pakistan supplier of Himalayan Rock Salt Licks to hold the same level of accreditation.
The requirements of this scheme are exacting, but they guarantee that any product manufactured in accredited facilities can boast the following credentials.
All product ingredients must be sourced from UFAS accredited suppliers.
All product ingredients can be fully traceable from " field to feed".
All products are manufactured to the very highest Quality Control specifications as laid down by EFSIS.
Hygiene standards are the same as those required for human food facilities.
Products are required to undergo regular random testing for Salmonella and Heavy Metals.
All product labels must comply with Trading Standards and European regulations and guidelines
The facility must have undertaken a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point risk assessment. HACCP is an internationally recognised way of managing food safety and protecting the consumer, which in this case is your horse or dog..
I believe that Hilton Herbs is the only UK herbal supplement manufacturer who can boast these credentials.
In the unlikely event of an adverse reaction or customer complaint we are able to identify not only the exact batch of each individual herb or tincture contained in the product, but would also be able to identify the source of those herbs back to the producer. As a matter of course a control sample of every single batch of product and individual herb or tincture is kept on our premises for a minimum of 4 years
So if you want to be confident the supplements your buying for your horse and pet are " fit for purpose", keep a look out for products bearing the NASC; EFSIS or Sai Global logos. These will tell you that the manufacture cares as much about your horse or pets health and well being as you do!!
Hilary Self BSc MNIMH
Medical Herbalist - Director Hilton Herbs
Note:
Hilton Herbs is a member of:
NASC - National Animals Supplements Council
EFSIS - European Feed Safety Inspection Service
UFAS - Universal Feed Assurance Scheme
APPA - American Pet Product Association
The Company holds the NASC's Seal of Quality accreditation
The Company holds EFSIS & Sai Global accreditation - for feed safety in Europe.
BETA - British Equestrian Trade Association
MNIMH - Hilary Self BSc MNIMH is a member of the MNIMH and is responsible for the formulations of all Hilton Herbs products.
