A congressional subcommittee called for the removal of a popular flea and tick collar that was linked to the deaths of 1,700 pets and suspected of causing disease in the tens of thousands.
In a letter to the manufacturer of the Seresto collar – a top seller on Amazon and to major US retailers – US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) Called for an immediate withdrawal, citing reports that he was involved in 75,000 incidents. harmful pets and nearly 1,000 incidents involving people, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
“We believe that the actual number of deaths and injuries is much higher, as the average consumer would not know how to report pet damage to the EPA, an agency that apparently has nothing to do with pet products for consumers,” Krishnamoorthi wrote in letter.
The EPA, which regulates pet collars because they contain pesticides, was also involved because it did not do enough to address the massive number of complaints it received, according to USA Today, which first reported problems with pesticides. the March 2 collars, along with the Midwest Investigative Reporting Center.
The Seresto collar “is the only flea and tick collar that combines a cocktail of two pesticides,” Krishnamoorthi wrote in a letter to Jeff Simmons, executive director of its manufacturer, Elanco Animal Health, citing EPA data. Although this may make flea collars more effective, “apparently, they can be more toxic to pets and humans,” the MP added.
An incident involving a 12-year-old boy who slept in bed with a dog wearing a collar led to the boy being hospitalized due to convulsions and vomiting, Krishnamoorthi wrote.
In addition to requesting recalls and reimbursements for Elanco customers, Krishnamoorthi, chairman of the subcommittee on economic and consumer policy, is asking German pharmaceutical giant Bayer, which originally developed the collar, to release information about its toxicity.
Among the issues the lawmakers are examining are all communications “between Bayer and Elanco during Elanco’s acquisition of Bayer Animal Health on toxicity or risk of death and injury to pets or humans from Seresto flea and tick collars and transfer of liabilities “, according to the letter.
Bayer sold its animal health division to Elanco last year for $ 7.5 billion. In 2019, it reported revenues of over $ 300 million from the Seresto collar.
Elanco officials could not be reached for comment Friday.
Elanco officials said on Friday they were cooperating with the congressional subcommittee’s inquiry and “look forward to explaining how media reports on the issue have been widely rejected by toxicologists and veterinarians.” The company added that “no market action such as withdrawal is justified, nor has it been suggested by any regulatory agency”.
“There is no medical or scientific basis for initiating a withdrawal of Seresto collars and we are disappointed that this is causing confusion and unfounded fear for pet owners trying to protect their pets from fleas and ticks,” said Dr. Tony Rumschlag, senior director for technical consultants. at Elanco, he said in a statement to USA Today.
A retired EPA employee, Karen McCormack, disagrees, The Post reported. Collars have the most incidents of any pesticide pet product they have ever seen, McCormick told USA Today.
Seresto is one of the most popular collars sold on Amazon, which has many annoying product reviews.
“10 days after I put the Seresto collar on my dog, he suffered from a neurological problem diagnosed as meningitis of ‘unknown origin’,” a client wrote. “He has temporarily lost the use of his hind legs and veterinary bills have already exceeded $ 5,000.”
Amazon told USA Today through a spokeswoman that it was “reviewing” the product.