Shark On Your Pet’s Plate

 

What your pet dog and cat eating with that pet food you brought? It’s a shark!

Sharks according to latest report is in the brink and risk of extinction due to fishing efforts and a demand for a shark products like liver oil, meat and fins; and its population have decreased or decline more than 70% within or over 50 years despite the public awareness of conserving sharks.

In Singapore, shark has been found on pet’s foods sold in the market using DNA barcoding they identify the shark’s DNA.

The most commonly identified shark is the blue shark or prionace glauca which is according to the reported is over exploited.

Second is the silky shark or Carcharhinus falciformis.

On the listing of ingredients on pet’s food, shark is not directly identified as one of the ingredients but secretly attributed as “white fish”,” white bait”, and “ocean fish”. This mislabeling either deliberate or accidental according to the reports contributes also to the decline of shark population.

 

“Researchers found about one third of animal feed samples taken in Singapore contained shark DNA….. The next time you buy cat food from the store, take a look at the ingredients listed on the back. If you see “fish,” “white fish” or “ocean fish,” your pet might be eating shark meat. “ (Smithsonian)