Aflatoxins in Pet Foods: A Risk to Special Consumers

Abstract

Mycotoxin contamination in pet food poses a serious health threat to pets. Cereal grains and nuts are used as ingredients in commercial pet food for companion animals such as cats, dogs, birds, fish and rodents. Cereal by-products may be diverted to animal feed even though they can contain mycotoxins at concentrations greater than raw cereals due to processing (Moss, 1996; Brera et al., 2006). Several mycotoxin outbreaks in commercial pet food have been reported in the past few years (Garland and Reagor, 2001; Stenske et al., 2006). Most outbreaks of pet mycotoxicosis, however, remain unpublished and may involve the death of hundreds of animals (MSNBC News Services, 2006). The term “companion animal” implies the existence of a strong human–animal bond between pets and their owners (Adams et al., 2004). A pet is often regarded as a family member by its owner and a person may develop strong relationships with animals throughout his or her lifetime. Pet interactions and ownership have been associated with both emotional and physical health benefits (Milani, 1996; Adams et al., 2004). The human–animal bond has resulted in over sixty four million American households in owning one or more pets in 2006, thereby creating a huge market for the pet food industry (APPMA, 2006). Dogs and cats continue to be the most popular pet to own, found in at least one out of three US households. The breakdown of pet ownership in the USA according to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey is above of a hundred millions of dogs and cats (Table 1).