The Paws Off Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Schweikert and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to require labeling for any food that contains xylitol. Specifically, foods containing xylitol would be deemed misbranded unless the label or labeling includes a warning about xylitol’s toxic effects for dogs if ingested. The bill also mandates rulemaking at the federal level: an interim final rule within 6 months of enactment and a final rule within 1 year. The “Secretary” referenced in the bill is the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA). In short, the bill aims to ensure consumer awareness about xylitol’s dangers to dogs by tying the presence of a dog-toxicity warning to the labeling of xylitol-containing foods, with FDA-led timelines to implement the warning requirement.
Key Points
- 1Adds a labeling requirement: foods that contain xylitol must include a warning about xylitol’s toxic effects on dogs if ingested.
- 2Misbranding trigger: foods containing xylitol that do not include the required warning would be deemed misbranded under the FD&C Act.
- 3Rulemaking timeline: interim final rule within 6 months of enactment; final rule within 1 year of enactment.
- 4Administration: implementation overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the FDA Commissioner.
- 5Scope clarification: applies to foods that contain xylitol, as defined by the FD&C Act’s labeling provisions.