The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it would not classify CBD as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials warned 15 companies,13 of which produce pet products, that they allegedly illegally sold pet and human products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). On November 25, the FDA publicized that it sent warning letters to the 15 companies. At the same time, the agency announced that it would not classify CBD as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), which would have allowed the ingredient to be used in foods based on historical human and animal use. The agency stated that it lacked sufficient empirical evidence supporting the safety of CBD consumption. Read more.

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Wall, Tim. “CBD Not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for Pet Foods.” PetfoodIndustry.com, PetfoodIndustry.com, 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8730-cbd-not-generally-recognized-as-safe-gras-for-pet-foods.

To address dog owners’ fears, Icelandic+ executives adapted the marketing of the companies’ dried herring and capelin products for dogs after the FDA announcement.

Various inspirational quotes refer to how a crisis creates an opportunity. In the pet food industry, some companies found ways to make lemonade of the lemon harvest that followed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announcement of July 2018. The agency informed the public about its investigation into correlation among canine dilated cardiomyopathy and some grain-free dog food formulations made with potatoes, peas, lentils or other legume seeds. While the resulting consumer fears closed a door for some brands as sales of their products declined, a window opened for dog foods and treats positioned to rebrand or reformulate. Read more.

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Wall, T. (2019, November 25). Dog food, treat brands adapt marketing post-DCM. Retrieved from https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8692-dog-food-treat-brands-adapt-marketing-post-dcm.

The scarcity of research on how CBD affects dogs and cats matches the abundance of marketing.

Cannabidiol (CBD) supplements and additives for pets rank high on the list of most popular, and promoted, dog and cat product trends. However, the scarcity of research on how CBD affects dogs and cats matches the abundance of marketing. A scientist with one hemp CBD oil-infused pet treat and supplement company, ElleVet Sciences, collaborated with other researchers from several universities to examine how CBD intake influenced dogs’ and cats’ blood composition, as well as the animals’ behavior. In the experiment, CBD supplementation seemed safe for healthy, adult dogs, but a few issues arose in cats that may need further observation. Read more.

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Wall, Tim. “CBD Pet Supplements May Affect Dogs and Cats Differently.” PetfoodIndustry.com, PetfoodIndustry.com, 15 Nov. 2019, https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8686-cbd-pet-supplements-may-affect-dogs-and-cats-differently.