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Who is Chef Michael?
- 4-9-2009
- Categorized in: Pet Food News
A new pet food is being advertised on television, Chef Michael’s Canine Cuisine. The commercial never shows Chef Michael’s face, however it does show him preparing a ‘chef style’ meal for his dog in a kitchen. After seeing the commercial, I wondered who Chef Michael was.
My email to Purina asked that question…”Who is Chef Michael?” Below is Purina’s response.
“Thank you for contacting Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.
We appreciate your interest in our products. Please know that Chef Michael is not a real person, but a reflection of the many people inspired to make mealtime special for their dogs.
Purina(r) Chef Michael's(tm) canine creations are a full line of thoughtfully prepared meals designed to give your dog just what he/she desires. Our healthy dry dinners give dogs daily nutrition and extraordinary taste in a blend of tender, meaty pieces and crunchy little bites with vegetable garnishes and other ingredients. Our menu of mouthwatering wet meals is sure to please with the flavors your dog loves and thoughtful touches, like delicious vegetable garnishes.
Because we value you as a loyal consumer we will be mailing several high value discount coupons for your use toward your next Nestle Purina PetCare Company purchase. Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery.
Again, thank you for visiting our web site.”
I’d like to know what you think. If you’ve seen the commercial, did you think ‘Chef Michael’ was a real person; a real chef? After reading Purina’s response, do you think the Chef Michael dog food commercial is fair to petsumers?
Please share your feelings by posting comments below.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com
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I agree that using a vague reference to Chef Michael Chiarello is a reflection of a lack of integrity. They have the clothing he wears and a fair imitation of his voice. The fact that they fail to show his face is where their integrity goes down the drain. I really like Nestle' and Purina and am very disappointed with them for this ad.
Yeah, I used to work for Michael Chiarello and when I first saw the commercial I was waiting to see if they were ever going to show his face...but they didn't, and then they had this voice come on that sounded just like him. I don't like the commercial, and I wouldn't buy the dog food. They could have chosen any name...why mimick Michael Chiarello?
We have a Chihuahua and a mutt, we tried this food and BOTH dogs started losing weight!! It was horrible! Our Chi looked anorexic and that was after only a week on the food! It only took a few days going back to the old food for him to start gaining again, poor boy! I should have done a lot more research before switching them, I know better!
i am very disappointed in this foos my dogs hate it will not touch i thought it would be moist but it is hard and dry. it is terrible
What about the food?
There is of course; no "Chef Michael"... but its the vague imagry that it conjures up. Imagry of a Famous chef; maybe french; dressed in white; renowned; jumps into the brain. Mission accomplished. Wiser folks will have their bullshit detector activated first though
And what about the food!?
If they are willing to be that shifity in their marketing tactics, what lengths to they go to in the formulation and production of their products? Thanks always for your great insight. I would never have thought to pursue it myself.
Seriously, I'm old enough to remember when this "game" first started but wonder how many folks are going to fall for this one too.
It's still a great ploy, just like "truth in advertising".
LOL! Thanks for your comment. Finally a comment that makes sense. I really don't care about the name, my dog does not eat the bag. I came to this site for nutritional info, not to learn about advertising gimmicks. And if little Chi looked anorexic after one week of eating this, maybe I will give it a go! Could not be worse than some of the frozen dinners those "REAL" chef's sell in all of the grocery stores.
I have a yorkie 8yrs old and he stop eating everything but when i tried the chef michaels he eats like its no tomorrow even the dry food. i don't know why he likes it and i really don't care as long as he eats it and like it i will buy it
Thank you so much for this listing of information which keeps me on my toes,allows me to make my own decesions and appears to help keep my pets healthy and in improved condition. WE ALL MUST BE LABEL READERS AND BE ALERT, there are too few laws about our food and their foods, and to few people to inforce ones that are on the books. I remember the 1960's when they added huge amounts of ash and started dry food for cats. I worked at a veterinarians and remember all the cats that died -from kidney failure from plugged urethras and couldn't urinate because of it. And OH HOW THE MANUFACTURERS DENIED that IT WAS the CAUSE and then wouldn't put the ASH CONTENT ON THE BAGS OR CANS. They said they had done all the research and there wasn't anything wrong with ash up to 18 percent in the cats feed. The surgeries male catsand illness in the females had to suffer through and ended up dieing in addition to the heart break so many owners went through not mentioning the money and debt incurred trying to save their loved pets. So , greed continues and I hopefully will always be able to make my own food for them and recommend it to new pet owners and old timers. It isn't easy at first but once you get into a routine it gets better and the pets appear to REALLY APPRECIATE IT. Not just happy to get something to eat and whoofing it down(dry/and wet)commercial foods. They seem to savior their home cooked meals now, and I enjoy sitting there watching them. Good luck everyone---all we can do is try the best we can to protect them and be vigilant.
Sincerely, MCR
Like you, I started cooking for my Poodle Henri 20 years ago. He was allergic to 35 different foods. The only meat he could eat was pork. Henri passed away in 2008 at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 15 days old.
We now have a two year old Poodle, Charlie who is a puppy mill child and is hyperactive. He will only eat chicken, carrots, peas, butterbeans, celery, and potatoes. He dislikes corn with a passion. So much so he has tried to hide the kernel under the trash can. He is in perfect health and I will continue to cook for him until one of us gets to old to do so.
Do you know what "Canine" implys? It means Carnivore or one that eats meat! Potatoes for a Dog? Are you trying to kill your Poodle? Dogs cannot process the starch in potatoes and this food is generally regarded by vets as toxic to canines.
Once one goes from kibble to raw, a major % stay with raw and enjoy the benefits of same.
Some succumb to the scare tactics and guilt trips from the vets, and return to kibble.
In amulti billion dollar a year business, why would anything the major food corp'ns do to get their hands in your pocket, surprise you.
I have not seen the commercial so I cannot comment on whether it portayed Chef Michael as a real person, but site unseen, I can believe it does.
After reading the TAPF reviews and shifting from one kibble to the next, I decided on Raw too. We're very lucky, in that the locally raised raw meat is supplied weekly, so that it can be decanted and frozen into smaller portions. Once thawed it's mixed with The Honest Kitchen's Preference (Alfalfa mixture) and 1 slice of toast. This morning meal has positively changed my dog's temperment into "happy, enthusiastic, cooperative, and calm-submissive". His positive energy level has tripled in that he can go a whole day without a deep nap. He gets a very small amount of Orijen+Wellness Core at night to avoid "acid" stomach and ensure he's getting right proportion of vitamins/minerals.. We only use raw beef and lamb, and would encourage anyone who's fighting other food issues to try such a simplistic diet. Even saute'ing the meat slightly is better than processed canned. Between using Raw, and the highest quality possible kibble, your bases are covered in terms of nutrients, and the detractors are only using scare tactics. By the way, Vets in California are not allowed to "recommend" a commercial food, although they can prescribe a diet to treat a condition.
Blessings to all..... and don't forget to help the animal shelters! they do need your help.
yup the previus comments have it, indeed, it! is an advertising ploy, nothing more. i havent seen the ads, i am in Australia, but i know how they work. and as always the price will go up to pay for the supposed better product which may have been window dressed a sprig of parsley mayhap?
Home cooked and raw is best, add calcium and vitamins kelp ect as required always after the food has cooled BTW:-)
and watch your friends get healthy.
and save heaps.
I cook for 5 deer/wolf crosses daily ,3kg meat in,pan, add water herbs garlic put it on low while you do your own meal or whatever, and add pasta and pearlbarley when meat is reaching the slow boil, cook for 5 mins, and turn off, it will continue to cook, Free. when it hac cooled feed, how hard is that?
My dogs live to be old and rarely have health issues.
you must have bought the pate' kind, our dog loves chef michaels food, she won't eat anything else, she won't even touch human food.
Our dogs do not like the same food daily and both love the beef and chicken of Chef Michael. I really don't care if it is an advertising ploy. I am more concerned for what they will eat.
Nutrition is as important in animals as in humans. Consumers and store owners need to demand that pet product labels meet NASC requirements, and that the producers offer 100% label claim guarantee.
Know the producer. Demand to see COA's on ingredients.
Sites like this are great, but only if they educate, not just infuriate.
Joe from Texas
Angeline, I smiled when I read your post, because my dachshund turns his nose up at the food I feed him, too. I give him Eukanuba Dachshund formula (dry), and he stands there, over his bowl, looking so forlorn (like a little kid who is forced to stay at the table to finish his lima beans). I started mixing it with a little canned food and he still looked at me like I had three heads or something. Anyway, I started mixing the food with a small bit of Chef Michael's Dry food....a VERY small amount. He has been tearing into his meals like he hasn't eaten in years. So, in small amounts, this so-called "crap" has been a lifesaver for me. I now have a very happy, healthy little guy with a shiny coat, sparkly eyes and a wagging tail!
I've been feeding my mini doxie the Eukanuba Dachshund formula (dry) for years and he hates it and goes on hunger strikes. My local pet food store stopped carrying it, so I tired Wellness brand and he got really stinky gas....He loves this Chef Michaels stuff (dry) and will eat it with no coaxing. I supplement with homemade sweet potato treats and streamed veggies. . .
By the way, I found Chef Michael's at Target.
this week i have been having the same problem with not finding the food anywhere did they stop making it my yorkie will not eat anything
My picky dog has been eating the can chicken herb food today to my pleasure I found the dry food in petsmart