Petition to make bittering agents in antifreeze a legal requirement...

[Oeisha]

Please sign and share this petition about adding bittering agents to antifreeze - helping to stop the deliberate and accidental poisoning of our beloved pets and wild animals...
Petition

Many thanks

I've just done it. There is no reason to make a poison that tastes like a sweet, unless the objective is to kill things.

thank you!

bumpety bump! We can protect our own animals from drinking out of puddles on public highways, but there is nothing to stop wild animals from doing what comes naturally, then dying in a horrible way as a consequence.

Exactly. It's a painful and voilent way to die. Wild animals have no hope of getting help. Often it's just plain too late for pets.

bump - this is very important and is a real problem. Our practice dealt with several cats affected by antifreeze earlier this year and some didn't make it

Is this thread in AIBU? It's just because it's a well used forum.

AIBU? Sorry, monster headache and brain's gone, and the only meaning of AIBU I can think of is "am I being unreasonable"....

It's a legit petition created from people on these forums, who are fed up and full of grief about people's pets being needlessly, and often purposfully killed because of antifreeze poisoning. There is another similar petition on the same site if people don't like the wording of this one. Just use 'antifreeze' and a search term. But if you agree with the sentiment then please sign this one.

It's a .gov.uk petition - in that is' the UKgovs official page for petitioning. It affects dogs (stray and otherwise) as well as cats and wild animals, as antifreeze has a slightly sweet taste and it highly palletable. Adding 1p to the cost of a bottle of antifreeze to put off and (if the dye gets included too) give vets a tool to more speedily diagnose antifreeze poisoning as an issue seems so little...

This is why I put it in the dog, cat and general forums. Just to 'help the cause'.

Oeisha, what did the major manufacturers say when you contacted them on this issue? Sometimes this type of change can come about without actually needing legislative change. Given that this is compulsory in many states of the USA and in several European countries including France, I'm really surprised British manufacturers are being resistant, and would love to know what reasons they've given for not changing formulation. A high profile campaign against a manufacturer's stance could bring about change faster than appealing to politicians. Knowing the objections could help to focus the campaign.

It's not my petition, though I am 100% supporting it. And, no I haven't contacted manufacturers directly. But I don't actually believe all manufacturers would do this voluntarily as it would mean adding costs to their product...thus needing legislation anyway. BElieve it of not, people are actualyl poisoning other people with anti-freeze. You think this alone would be enough reason for manufacturers to adapt their product, but apparently not...
But, food for thought, thank you. I shall feed it back on the forums where the idea started...

Shameless bump. Please sign and share

I didn't know this happened!

signed

Thank you xxx

oeisha maybe you should post this in chat/AIBU or somewhere with more traffic also? If it tastes sweet then it's also extremely dangerous to children. I had no idea it caused so much harm. I won't use it this winter.

It's in chat...just put it there...
I will put it in AIBU now!
:o

Another shameless plug for Blue Death.org.uk. Please read about the dangers of antifreeze and sign both petitions. blue death.org www.bluedeath.org.uk
If we get 10,000 signatures on the .gov.uk one it becomes eligable for debate in the HoC...info on site on contacting your MP etc.
.gov.uk petition
original petition

OP, I understand and support the idea behind the website. However, some questions. Are there any makes or mfrs or antifreeze that are widely available to customers that DO contain bittering ingredients? Would be helpful to know.

What proportion of the widely available antifreeze is currently unsafe for animals? Are there any retailers who are sympathetic to this? E.g. Halfords, supermarkets etc. What is their line on this?

I'm concerned that the website is very focused on a petition when there may actuallly be lots of other practical steps that can be taken including guidance for concerned customers on what to buy, and suggestions for pressure on mfrs/retailers etc.

I'm trying to get some help together for these questions, but am currently swamped with a newborn and PND...
I know morrisons sell one with a bittering agent. Can't for the life of me think of it's name right now...DH is out in car, with it...but it was in a red bottle.
It's a must to have bitterant in a lot of EU countries and in many US states, so, yes, there will be manufacturers (I think it adds something like a penny to the cost of a bottle to add the bitterant).
Blue Death organisers have tried contacting the companies, but they've all been very dismissive (along the lines of "why should we bother, it'll make it more expensive, or just ignoring)...so, yes, whilst it would be nice if the industry had a conscience about this, alas they don't in many cases. Hopefulyl the RSPCA's interest, as well as newspapers picking up on stories will highlight it to customers and the industry. However, if all antifreezes had them in (rather than relying on industry to 'do the tright thing' then this woudl elimiate the danger for animals and humans!)
I'll ask about again on the blue death FB page if anyone can list any.
Meanwhile the bluedeath pages does list a product by hydratech as suitable for some vehicles...
hydratech info www.bluedeath.org.uk/#/non-toxic-eg/4558151771

tetrosyl make:
LSR001 - Blue Star Ready Mix Antifreeze
BLU002 - Bluecol 'U' Antifreeze

Halford's own- BUT check bottle.

You're looking for "bitrex" to be in the product.

another shameless bump...