This report examines the differences between what consumers think they are buying and what they actually receive. It focuses on the most visible name brands – the pet food labels to mass-distributed to supermarkets and shops are – but there are many highly regarded brands, can be guilty of the same crimes.

What most consumers do not know that the pet food industry’s expansion into food and agriculture industries. Pet food provides a convenient way to the slaughterhouse offal, grains used for “inedible” waste has become like a profit. This waste includes intestines, udders, heads, hooves, and possibly diseased and cancerous animal parts.

Players

The pet food market has been dominated in recent years through the acquisition of large companies by large companies. 15000000000 in the game with the $ U.S. and the fast-growing overseas markets, it is no wonder that some are more greedy piece of the pie.

Other major pet food makers in Pet Care is the best known, although many of their household and personal care products, do not use ingredients produced from animal by-products:

Private Labeler (who make food the “house” brands like Kröger and Wal-Mart) and co-packers (who produce food Other pet food manufacturers) are also major players. Three majors, Doane Pet Care, Diamond, and Menu Foods, they produce food, and dozens of private label brands. It is interesting that all three of these companies have been linked to pet food recalls that are ill, or killed many pets.

Many major pet food companies in the United States are subsidiaries of giant multinational corporations. From the business point of view, very suitable for pet food company, the products of human origin. International bulk buying power has grown, these foods have a captive market for these products make use of waste and pet food divisions have a solid capital base and, in many cases, a convenient source of ingredients.

Pet Food Institute – producers of pet food – have recognized the use of by-products in pet foods as additional income for farmers and processors, “growth in the pet food industry not only for pet owners better food intended for pet animals, but also created additional profitable markets for U.S. agricultural products and by-products in meat processing, poultry and other food products, food produced for human consumption. “1

There are special labeling requirements for pet food, all of which are annually revised Official Publications of the AAFCO. 2 While AAFCO does not regulate pet food, which gives the model regulations and standards that are followed by U.S. pet food makers.

Food provides the name of the first signs of food content. Use the word “all” or “100%” can not be used “if the product is more than one component, which does not contain enough water for processing or monitoring agents decharacterizing preservatives and spices.”

“95% rule” applies when the ingredient (s) of animals, poultry, fish, or have obtained a minimum of 95% or more of the total weight of the product (or 70% excluding water for processing). Because all-meat diet is a balanced diet and lead to serious deficiencies, if fed exclusively fell out of favor for many years. But as the growing consumer interest in high-quality meat products, many companies are now promoting 95% and 100% preserved meat, such as feeding option.

“Dinner” product is defined as “25% rule” which applies when “an ingredient or a combination of ingredients for at least 25% by weight of goods (excluding water sufficient for processing) or at least a 10% fall, and the keyword” recipe “,” saucer “,” Appetizer “and” formula. “combination of ingredients in the product name is entered in an acceptable, if the individual components are likely to at least 3% by weight, excluding water for processing the ingredient name in descending order by weight.

“With” rule allows an ingredient on the label’s name, as “pretty chicken” as long as each of these components represents probably less than 3% of the food by weight, excluding water for processing.

“Flavor” rule allows a food ingredient (s named a flavor for so long) that are sufficient to “make specific” to eat. Such a “beef flavor” food contains a digest of small cattle, or other tissues, or even a statement of artificial flavors, even without a real beef.

The list of ingredients is another important key, which is actually in the bag or not. Ingredients in descending order by weight must be listed. Ingredient names are legally defined. For example, “meat” refers to only cows, pigs, goats and sheep, and contains only the absence of muscle. A detailed definition of the AAFCO Official Gazette, amend, published annually, but there are also many places online.

Guaranteed Analysis gives a very general picture of the composition of the diet. Crude protein, fat and fiber, to a total moisture content, are listed. Some companies also voluntarily list taurine, omega fatty acids, magnesium and other elements that they consider important – marketing.

Pet Food Standards and regulations

National Research Council (NRC) is an Academy of Sciences of the nutritional standards for pet foods that are used by the pet food industry until the 1980th The original NRC standards are based on purified diets, and made the required feeding trials for pet foods claimed “complete” and “balanced”. Pet food industry found the feeding trials too restrictive and expensive, so AAFCO designed an alternate procedure for claiming the nutritional adequacy of a member of pet food, by testing with foods’ nutritional profiles. ” AAFCO also created “expert committees” for dog and cat food, cats, dogs, and separate standards developed.

During feeding trials, sometimes still, they are expensive and time consuming. Standard chemical analysis can also be used to ensure that the nutrient profiling can be met. In any case, it is specified on the label declaration of the method used. However, as the “family rule”, the AAFCO book, the label may say that the feeding experiments were carried out, if it is “similar” to the food, which was actually tested on live animals. Not so, lead product in its “distinguished members of the family.” The label also indicate whether the product is equipped with an adequate diet (this is a complete and balanced), and what life stage (adult or growth) is the food. Food, says: “all life stages” meets the standards for growth and can be fed at all times.

Chemical analysis, but not the taste, digestibility, or biological availability of nutrients in the diet. Thus, to determine whether the animal has enough food to provide nutrients for sound. To compensate for the restrictions on a chemical analysis, AAFCO added “safety factor” was the minimal nutrients needed to gain a complete and balanced requirements.

In 2006, the new NRC standards were published, but it will take some years AAFCO’s profile has been updated and validated, not to mention the host countries.

Pet food industry say that it is more regulated than the food, but it’s not just true. Pet food is a bit of a legal vacuum, law books, but enforcement is another story. The FDA has a nominal power of pet foods shipped across state borders. But the real “Enforcer” feed control officials in each country. They are the ones who are actually engaged in food and in many cases, perform basic tests to ensure that the food meets the guaranteed analysis on the label in the table to say how much protein, fat, fiber and moisture are present. However, regulation and enforcement vary considerably from one Member State. Some, like Texas, Minnesota, Kentucky and lead to extensive testing and strict enforcement of its laws, others, like California, but not both.

Dry Food

Most dry food is made from a machine called extruder. First, the materials are mixed according to recipe, using computer programs that created the nutrient supply to each proposed building blocks. For example, corn gluten meal has more protein than wheat flour. Since the extruder needs a consistent amount of starch and low moisture to work properly, chemical ingredients – made from meat and bone meal, poultry by-product of higher flour, grain and flour -.

The dough is fed to the screw and extruder. It is exposed to steam and high pressure, because it is forced through dies that determine the shape of the finished product similar to the nozzles used in cake decorating. As the hot, pressurized dough exits the extruder, cut into small pieces, a number of rapidly whirling blades. If the batter reaches the atmospheric pressure, it expands or “blows” in its final form. The food is usually allowed to dry and then digested fats or other compounds to make it more palatable spray. When it has cooled, it can be a bag.

Although cooking kills bacteria in the ingredients, finished goods, pick up more bacteria during the subsequent drying, coating and packaging process. Some experts warn that allowing more bacteria on the surface of wet, dry food, multiply and make pets sick. Do not dry food mixed with water, milk, canned food, or other liquids.

A few dog foods cooked at high temperatures (above 500 ° F) and not pressed. This creates a page of dense, crunchy material, which is then divided into irregular chunks, much like crumbling crackers into soup. It is quite tasty without the sprayed-on fats for energy and other resources required for extruded dry food.

Semi-moist food and treats are produced by many of the PET extruder. To be attractive to consumers and retain their quality, they contain many additives, dyes and preservatives, they are not a good choice of pet food in the first place.

Wet Food

Wet or canned ground ingredients mixed with additives begins. If the pieces are needed, a special extruder forms them. Then the mixture is cooked and canned. Placed in sealed jars and similar containers, pressure cookers and commercial sterilization takes place matters. Some manufacturers cook the right food can be.

Wet foods are quite different in content of dry or semi-moist foods. While many canned products contain a variety, they will be “fresh” and not rendered or processed (although they are often frozen for transport and storage). Wet foods usually contain much more protein and is often a little higher quality than dry food. They also have more moisture, which is better for cats. They are packaged in cans or bags.

Compared to the food categories

Since changes in water content is not directly compare the labels of various kinds of food without a mathematical transition from ‘dry’. Numbers can be very deceptive. For instance, preserves, which include 10% protein is actually a lot more protein than dry food% 30 protein.

That the same food, we first calculate the dry matter content, moisture content, less the label of up to 100%. Then the stock component of the quantity of dry matter. For example, a typical bag of cat food contains 30% protein on the label, but 32% of dry matter (30% dry matter content of 100-6% Moisture = 94%) distributed. Can of cat food may contain 12% protein on the label, but almost 43% of dry matter (12% of its dry matter content, moisture 100-72% = 28%) distributed. Dry food typically contains less than 10% of the water, preserved, and contain 78% or more of water.

Animal protein

Dogs and cats are carnivores, and the best meat-based diet. The protein is used as animal feed derived from different sources. slaughtered cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep or other animals, lean muscle tissue is cut off from the carcase for human consumption, together with the few institutions to eat a man, because the tongue and tripe like.

But not more than 50% of the total animal should not be used for human nutrition. What is the carcass – the head, legs, bones, blood, intestines, lungs, spleens, livers, ligaments, fat trimmings, unborn children, and other parts not normally consumed by humans – is a pet food, animal feed, fertilizer, industrial lubricants, soap, rubber and other products. These “other parts” are known as the “products”. By-products are used as feed for poultry and livestock and pet food.

The nutritional value of by-products, meals, and digests can vary from batch to batch. James Morris and Quinton Rogers of the University of California Davis Veterinary School, argued that “[pet food] ingredients are generally by-products of meat, poultry and fish industry, the nutritional value or the potential for wide variation in nutrient composition. Available suitability of animal feed of the current Association of American feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient balances ( based on the “Profiles”), does not guarantee the adequacy and nutritional ingredients to be analyzed and bioavailability values. “3

Meat or poultry by-products “are very common in wet pet food. Please note that the” meat “refers to only cows, pigs, sheep and goats. Because sheep and goats are rare compared to 37000000 cows and pigs are killed 100 million in food annually to nearly all meat products, cattle and pigs.

A better brand of pet food, how many “super premium”, “natural” and “organic” varieties, do not use by-products. On the label, you’ll see one or more of the meat among the first few ingredients, such as “Turkish” or “sheep.” They are still mainly chicken meat scraps left over from when it comes to home, the bones are allowed, so that “consists primarily of return and the frame spine and ribs, minus their expensive breast meat. A small amount of meat from the bones to the left of the meat for pet food. Even those less attractive source of pet food it is very difficult for marketers when it comes to meat, so it is even heading “Marketing Magic” is described below.

Meat, poultry, by-product meal, meat and bone meal are common ingredients in dry pet food. The term “food” means that these materials are not used fresh, but it had become useless. While the chicken, turkey, poultry by-product meal, and there is no equivalent term for mammal meat by-product meal “- so called” meat and bone meal. “It may be mentioned species, such as” beef and bone meal “or” pork-and-bone meal. ”

What is rendering? As defined in Webster’s Dictionary has to do is, “if the industrial application process: the carcasses of oil and grease, fat-extracted, etc., by melting.” In other words, the raw material is a large bathroom and dumped simmer for several hours. Rendering separates fat and water removed, and kills bacteria, viruses, parasites and other organisms. However, the use of high temperature (270 ° F/130 ° C) may change or destroy the natural enzymes and proteins in the ingredients.

Since the persistent rumors that rendered by-products contain dead dogs and cats, led a study looking for pentobarbital FDA, the most common euthanasia drug, in pet food. They found it. Ingredients that were most frequently related to the presence of pentobarbital were meat-bone meal and animal fat. But they are also very sensitive to DNA tests used for dogs and cats, which were found to follow. Industry insiders acknowledge that pets are thawed and used in animal feed roadkill a few years ago. Although not yet have laws or regulations against the practice is uncommon today, and pet food companies in general, deny that their products contain such substances. But the so-called “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled) were only recently banned for human consumption and is still a legitimate ingredients for pet food.

Vegetable protein

The amount of cereal and vegetable products used in pet food has risen over time. Herbal products are now replaced by a large part of the meat, which was first used in commercial pet food. This has serious shortcomings that were corrected by the path that led, but many animals died before the science involved.

Most dry foods contain large amounts of grain or starchy vegetables to give texture. These high-carbohydrate plant products also a cheap source of “energy” – the rest of us call it the “calories.” Gluten meals are high in protein extracts from the most carbohydrates had been removed. They are often used to promote protein shares without the expensive ingredients of animal origin. Corn gluten is the most commonly used for this purpose. Wheat gluten is also used to create shapes like cuts, bites, chunks, shreds, flakes, and windows and a thickener for sauces. In most cases, plant protein foods of poorer quality food.

The current fad, “low-carb” pet food companies have cut off some of the grains and potatoes, peas and other starchy vegetables as substitute. With the exception of animals who are allergic to wheat, the Dry-Low-carb diets, no particular advantage to domestic animals. They also tend to be very high in fat and if fed free choice a result of weight gain. Canned versions are suitable prevention and treatment of diabetic cats, and as part of a weight loss program and maintenance.

Livestock and poultry

This is a unique, pungent odor, a new bag of dry food – What is the source of that smell? Usually this is rendered animal fats, vegetable fats and oils, inedible to humans. Thus, for example, used restaurant grease and tallow in animal feed shall be transmitted for several years, but now a lucrative market for biodiesel production.

These fats sprayed directly pressed pellets, and croquettes, which otherwise would have an unpleasant taste or the product palatable. The fat also acts as a binder, which are producers of other flavor enhancers such as digests “animals” made from processed by-products. Pet food scientists have discovered that animals love the taste of these sprayed fats. Manufacturers championship dog or cat is doing what they usually do not turn the nose to eat.

What happened to the nutrients?

Cooking and other processing of meat products and animal feed can be used to significantly reduce its nutritional value, although cooking increases digestibility of cereal and starchy vegetables.

Nutritious food, pet food manufacturers need to step up “of vitamins and minerals. Why? Because they are together the ingredients are not healthy, their quality can be highly variable, and the harsh manufacturing practices destroy many of the nutrients, the food was to begin.

Proteins are especially prone to heat and become damaged or “denatured,” when cooked. As the dry ingredients twice – Cooked First – if the extruder and re-rendering problems are much more frequent than with canned or homemade food. The changed proteins may be food intolerances, food allergies and inflammatory bowel diseases, including.

Additions of processed pet food

Many chemicals are attached to commercial pet foods, taste, stability, improve the character or appearance of food. Impurities do not give the nutritional value. Additives include emulsifiers to prevent water and fat separation of antioxidants to prevent rancidity of fat and artificial colors and flavors make the product more attractive to consumers and more palatable to your favorite animals.

Various additives and pet food may not be the vitamins and minerals. Not all of them are actually used in pet food. Impurities may be specifically authorized, or they may fall into the category of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).

Caking agentsAntigelling agentsAntimicrobial agentsAntioxidantsColor additivesCondimentsCuring agentsDrying agentsEmulsifiersEssential oilsFlavor enhancersFlavoring agentsGrinding agentsHumectantsLeavening agentsLubricantsPalatantsPelleting agent and binder Petroleum derivativespH control agentsPreservativesSeasoningsSpicesStabilizersSweetenersTexturizersThickeners

 

Chemical vs. Natural Preservatives

All commercial pet foods must be kept so that they would be fresh and appealing to our animal companions. Canning is a process of self-preserved, preserved, require little or no additional assistance. Some of the suppliers of raw ingredients or preservatives are, and others can be added by the manufacturer. U. S. Coast Guard calls such as fish meal, Ethoxyquin, or equivalent to gain a strong antioxidant. Of course, produces fish meal spoil such a heat, which led to the ship explosions and fires.

Because manufacturers need to ensure that dry foods are a long shelf life (usually 12 months) for the delivery and storage, fats used in pet foods are eaten, either synthetic or “natural” preservatives have been preserved. Synthetic preservatives include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also known as a less toxic version of automotive antifreeze) are used, and Ethoxyquin. These antioxidants, there is little information documenting their toxicity, safety, interactions, or chronic use in pet food that you can be every day life in the animal. Propylene glycol was banned in cat food because it causes anemia in cats, but it is still allowed to dog food.

Potentially carcinogenic substances such as BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin are permitted at relatively low levels. Use of these chemicals in pet foods has not been studied thoroughly, and may ultimately prove to be detrimental to long-term development of their agents. By preliminary data, the study questioned the safety of Ethoxyquin, Monsanto, the manufacturer, it was necessary to carry out new, more rigorous study. It was completed in the 1996th Even though Monsanto found no significant toxicity of their product the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine in July 1997 that manufacturers voluntarily reduce by half the limit of Ethoxyquin, 75 parts per million. Although some critics believe the pet food and veterinary surgeons that Ethoxyquin is the main cause illness, skin problems and infertility in dogs, others claim it is the safest, strongest, most stable preservative in pet food. Ethoxyquin is approved for use in food protection, such as spices, chili powder, cayenne, and at 100 ppm – but it would be very difficult to consume even the most hard-core Spice lovers too much like chili powder, such as daily dog eat dry food. Ethoxyquin has never been tested for safety in cats. However, it is commonly used for veterinary diet for dogs and cats.

Many pet food makers have responded to consumer concern, is now using “natural” preservatives such as Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and oils of rosemary, cloves or other spices, fats and their actual products. Shelf life is shorter, but – only about six months.

Individual ingredients, such as fish meal, preservatives may be added before they reach the food manufacturers. Federal law requires preservatives to the fat declared on the label, however, pet food companies do not always comply with this law.

Accessories

Given the nature of things manufacturers put in pet food, it is not surprising that bad things happen sometimes. Ingredients in pet foods are often heavily contaminated with various toxic substances. Some of them are destroyed in processing, but not in others.

Pet Food Recalls

If things go really wrong and serious problems are found in pet food company usually works with the FDA recalled the affected products in line with it. Although many have pointed out extensively, very few are not.

Diet-related diseases

The idea is necessary that we all have a companion animal nutrition and pet food for your whole life for, is a dangerous myth.

Today, eating dogs and cats far from the variable meat-based diets that their ancestors ate. Unpleasant consequences are based on processed corn, spread on a diet. Health problems related to nutrition:

Many nutritional problems appeared popular cereal commercial pet food. Some have occurred because the diet was deficient. Although several ingredients are now supplemented, we do not know what ingredients future researchers may happen that pet food should be added all the time. Other problems may arise from the reaction of additives. Others are due to contamination with bacteria, mold, drugs or other poisons. In some diseases the role of commercial pet food to understand the policy, others are not. The bottom line is that the diet is mostly low-quality cereals and rendered meals are not as composed as nutritious or safe to have their cat or dog.

Co-Packing

2007 Menu Foods recall, he brought some of the pet food industry, dirtiest secrets to the light.

Most people were surprised – and shocked – to find that all the Iams / Eukanuba Canned Iams Company is not done. In fact, in 2003, Iams’s exclusive 10-year contract for the production of 100% of its canned by Menu.

This type of transaction is a “co-packing.” One company makes the food, which leads him to someone else’s plate. This is a very common arrangement for the pet food industry. It was first pointed out Doane and Diamond, including the dozens of private labels were represented. But do not be so large or so “serious”, such as Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s was, Purina, Nutro, and other high-end, the so-called “premium” foods.

The big question raised by this agreement or not, whether there is any real difference between the least expensive brands and generics. Recalled products contain the active ingredient containing suspect wheat gluten, but not all of any by-products, including specific products, such as liver or giblets.

It is true that the pet food company can offer contracts for co-packer of its ingredients, or it may require the contractor to purchase certain components used in your recipes. But part of the attraction is with a co-packer that she could buy ingredients in bulk, larger than any of the pet food manufacturer of its own, making the process cheaper and more profitable. It is likely that many of the ingredients in all types of pet food section, which has the same composition.

Is one company’s products – the same ingredients in the same machine with the same name is called – is actually “better” than others? It is expensive to make players want to believe. Recalled brands claim that their food menu according to your recipe ingredients, as I have said, “and that” the manufacturers must meet stringent quality requirements. ” In fact, contracts are necessarily those points. But in the real world, things are not planned. How well the machines are cleaned between batches, as minimum wage workers, and thoroughly mix in particular is a dirty stinking job and everything would be perfect?

What are the differences between low cost and high-end food, one thing is clear. The purchase price of pet food is not always the pet food is good or bad, or even safe. But the very cheapest food in a very inexpensive ingredients. For example, Ol ‘Roy, Wal-Mart to maintain the brand, and is now involved in three major points.

Menu Foods manufactures many companies, not the market, including Nature’s Variety, Wellness, Castor and Pollux, Newman’s Own Organics, Wysong, Innova and Eagle Pack canned were affected. It is simple in its list of ingredients that these products are made from completely different ingredients and proportions, to see done. Here the problem of cleaning a machine between batches up, but hopefully not something that is deadly to move food to another.

Animal tests

Another bad practice with this recall is pet food testing on live animals. Menu’s own experiments in animals that have been deliberately fed rotten food, were the first known victims. The tests began in the 27th February (one week after the first reports) animals began dying in great pain, and kidney failure a few days later. shortly after the first press the menu has changed his story about the experiments’ taste to call. ” But the menu, live feeding, energy metabolism, taste tests and other Iams and other companies for years. Video tapes showing the animals living in barren metal cages; callous treatment, invasive tests and reckless cruelty.

While feeding trials can not be used for food labeling requirements for food “complete and balanced,” Many livestock producers to meet the palatability of the development of a new pet food research is needed. The number of animals is fed a new diet, while the “control” group is fed with the current formula. Total volume eaten is used gauge of palatability of food. Some companies use feeding trials, which are much more precise assessment of the actual nutritional value of foods. They keep large colonies of dogs and cats, or use the laboratories in order to have their animals.

There is a movement towards the palatability of pet animals into their homes, and other studies. In 2006, the Iams Company has cut the use of dogs and cats, laboratory animals by 70%. Although he said the moral victory, it is actually likely to be a financial possibility. Whatever the reason, it is a very positive step in the animals.

Finally, it is important to remember that the pollution, which could be held back to Menu Foods could happen anywhere at any time. It was not a mistake menu toxin was unusual and unexpected. All companies have quality control standards and test the ingredients of the common toxins before they are used. In addition to testing the finished products. However, the baseline risk is the use of raw materials that go to the pet food. If there are 11 to 12 years will be remembered, it is clear that the “freak events” are the rule rather than the exception.

Marketing Magic

Trip to the pet food aisle will waver in mind all the wonderful claims of pet food makers to its repertoire of products. Knowledge of the nature of the ingredients will help sort out some of the outrageous claims, but what is the truth behind all the hype?

Pet Food Marketing and advertising has become highly sophisticated in recent years. It is important to know what is hype and what is realistic to make decisions about what to feed your pet an informed decision.

Since the pet food manufacturers frequently change the recipes for their products and Born Free USA would not have the necessary tests, we are unable to offer endorsements for particular brands of pet food. Many of our employees choose to buy your pet food or a natural or organic products, most of the food and specialty stores, but we can not recommend brands, would be entitled to have their companion animal or animals.

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