Pet Food Ingredients

Risky or Health Promoting; learn about the ingredients in your pet's food.

Rendered Waste Ingredients Far More Serious Risk

Although Federal Food Safety laws prohibit it, some pet foods contain the rendered (cooked) remains of diseased animals or animals that have died 'other than by slaughter'.  A new study shows that deadly brain diseases known as prion diseases "might pass from one species to another more easily than previously thought."  This study clearly shows that FDA Compliance Policies allowing rendered diseased animals into pet food ingredients put pets and people at tremendous risk.

Pet Food the Land of Leftovers

When we as pet parents feed our pets leftovers from the table, the 'leftovers' are often a couple of pieces of steak or a few bites of broccoli.  People food - people quality food.  But when commercial pet food utilizes the leftover theme, an entirely different leftover is provided to pets.  Here is information on a little thought of commercial leftover commonly used in pet foods and treats; second clear flour. 

Feedback to FDA on Pet Food Safety Video

During the AAFCO meeting the FDA previewed a pet food safety video.  The following is the feedback I sent to Eric Nelson of FDA on the video. 

Pet Food Calorie Mis-Information

One of the biggest pitches of pet foods is the 100% Balanced Nutrition claim.  You see that '100% Balanced Nutrition' claim everywhere, even veterinarians advise pet parents to make sure you are feeding one of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) balanced pet foods.  'Your pet will suffer from health problems if you don't feed a balanced diet' is the typical advise.  Well guess what?  Those AAFCO balanced diets have calorie contents that run from well lower to well higher than what is needed for healthy pets.  Pet health is at significant risk even with 100% Balanced Diets. 

Is there Chicken in Chicken Pet Foods?

One of the newest trends of pet food marketing is a tag line something like 'Chicken is the first ingredient'.  Sounds good doesn't it?  Chicken, first or second on the ingredient list surely means this pet food contains lots of quality meat doesn't it?  No wonder this 'chicken' pet food is a little more expensive - it contains more meat.  Right?  Maybe not.

2011 Stupidest Act in Pet Food Nominees

Stupidity in the pet food industry, some things just never seem to change do they?  For the third straight year, TruthaboutPetFood would like to remind all of the stupidity that occurred this year and accept your votes for the Stupidest Act in Pet Food for 2011.

McDonalds, Eggs, and a Challenge

After an undercover investigation showed the world horrendous conditions at the factory farm McDonald's eggs are sourced from, McDonald's (and Target) ended a long term contract with the egg producer.  Though their hand was almost forced (due to the undercover video), McDonald's did do the right thing and ended a contract with a company that showed no respect for animals.  Would any of Big Pet Food do the same? 

Update on our Petition(s)

We are not there yet, but we are gaining momentum.  Here is an update on our Petition to put and end to illegal FDA Compliance Policies that allow rendered waste into pet foods/animal foods.

AAFCO's Response on Meat and Bone Meal

AAFCO President Chad Linton provided a response to my questions of where is all the meat and bone meal going (rendered animal waste). 

If the Whitehouse.gov website doesn't work...

Then we take our petition to Change.org.  I've received hundreds of emails from pet owners that have tried - in vain - to sign our petition.  It seems the Whitehouse.gov website doesn't work very well (that's not a good sign).  So, let's try to get our 25,000 signatures on Change.org.