How a food safety symbol hopes to improve pet health

Australia has launched Paws Off!, an initiative for human food manufacturers to list their products as unsafe for pets.

The initiative, led by Southern Cross Pet Insurance and the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), aims to create a warning label for unaware pet parents who may accidentally expose cats and dogs to harmful ingredients.

The symbol, which depicts a pet with its tongue out, will also inform pet parents of common food ingredients which may hold toxic compounds harmful to the animal’s health, including chocolate, onions, avocados, nuts, or fruits.

“This is an important topic around animal safety. We don’t want animals coming through our doors with avoidable and sometimes fatal illnesses,” said Sally Cory, Head of Veterinary Services Companion Animals at the NZVA.

Cory said that more than A$268,000 ($165,800/€151,400) were paid out by insurance in claims for the consumption of chocolate, raisins, and other harmful foods eaten by pets in the last 12 months.

The symbol can be downloaded free from pawsoff.co.nz and is available to food and beverage brands, veterinarians, pet hotels, dog walkers, and puppy schools.