Road kill and dead pets are allowed to be used in animal feed in Canada, raising concerns about the spread of chronic wasting disease, an illness similar to mad cow disease. But the federal food inspection agency says there's no need to worry.
Critics are concerned because some North American deer and elk have chronic wasting disease.
Claude Lavigne of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said chronic wasting disease has not been detected in free-ranging deer and elk in Canada, although it is present in some northern states. He said there is no indication the disease can be transmitted to another species such as cattle. Lavigne said he has no idea how much road kill winds up at rendering plants that process animal materials unfit for human consumption into animal feed. Logically it shouldn't be much. He said it is unlikely that renderers would use family pets although it is legal.