The ingredient Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced is usually utilized in pet meals as a supply of vitamin Ok…however…the ingredient is ONLY legally accepted to be used in poultry feed.
We requested the FDA and AAFCO why this ingredient is utilized in pet meals however not accepted for pet meals.
Though it took the company 2 months to reply, the FDA acknowledged:
“Thanks for contacting FDA’s Heart for Veterinary Medication (CVM). In your electronic mail from January 26, 2026, you inquired about FDA taking motion on cat meals that embrace menadione sodium bisulfite. You additionally point out that the ingredient is just accepted for poultry feed.
Menadione sodium bisulfite advanced (MSBC) and menadione are prior sanctioned as sources of vitamin Ok exercise in poultry feeds at 2-4 g/ton. Nonetheless, the FDA has not initiated regulatory motion towards different animal meals, together with pet meals, that include menadione or MSBC as sources of vitamin Ok exercise. FDA is unaware of any obvious animal security issues if these elements are utilized in accordance with good manufacturing processes.
Extra data concerning vitamin Ok might be discovered at: Vitamin Ok Substances and Animal Feed | FDA.
As well as, in 2021, AAFCO convened a panel of consultants to supply coverage suggestions for using Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced (MSBC) for meant makes use of past poultry feed. The panel really helpful that MSBC could also be used as a protected and appropriate supply of Vitamin Ok exercise within the meals for all animals in the USA in accordance with good manufacturing and feeding practices.”
AAFCO responded way more promptly, stating:
“The quick reply to your query is regulatory discretion by many state regulators, however the security rationale behind that call is laid out starting on p.340 of the OP in Suggestions for Use of MSBC in Animal Feed.”
So…the ingredient Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced is NOT accepted to be used in pet meals, however everybody has agreed to not implement regulation as a result of they consider the ingredient is protected to incorporate in pet meals.
Why not simply change the regulation and approve the ingredient to be used in pet meals?
In 2021, AAFCO fashioned an “knowledgeable panel” to “present coverage suggestions for using Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced (MSBC) for meant makes use of past poultry feed.”
The knowledgeable panel offered AAFCO an in depth report that features historic use of the ingredient, security research, and extra. “The panel really helpful that Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced could also be used as a protected and appropriate supply of Vitamin Ok exercise within the meals for all animals in the USA in accordance with good manufacturing and feeding practices.”
However once more…why go to the hassle of forming an knowledgeable panel, compiling analysis, getting ready an in depth report…and nonetheless not formally approve the ingredient to be used in pet meals? The method to vary the authorized definition of Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced to incorporate use in pet food, cat meals and different species would take only a few minutes (ten minutes at most) at an AAFCO assembly. Why are they not doing this final easy step? As an alternative counting on enforcement discretion (ignoring regulation)?
Private opinion: Sometimes, in a case like this when the ingredient is already accepted for one species and the one challenge left to debate is – is it protected for extra species, AAFCO does precisely what it did on this occasion – kind an knowledgeable panel. However in each different occasion to my information, after the knowledgeable panel offers their opinion – AAFCO brings the dialogue again to a gathering and provides their approval for extra species or denies their approval for extra species. AAFCO sometimes finishes the method, makes it official in regulation.
However on this case, they didn’t. 5 years after the knowledgeable panel declared the elements protected…no motion by regulatory as been taken to legally approve the ingredient to be used in pet meals. It doesn’t make sense.
The reply could be so simple as they simply haven’t gotten round to approving Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced in pet meals. However…it has been 5 years because the knowledgeable committee declared the ingredient protected to be used in pet meals.
It’s a puzzle.
Susan ThixtonPet Meals Security AdvocateAuthor Purchaser Beware, Co-Writer Dinner PAWsibleTruthaboutPetFood.comAssociation for Fact in Pet Meals
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