359 More word games and paddling
Unpublished"Natural" and "Organic" are two separate classes. They are both better than the "typical" commercial pet food but they require distinction from each other. Companies who use the "Natural" term have more flexibility than going "Organic." In other words, organic foods are always natural, but natural foods may not necessarily be organic. "Natural" is not the same as "organic." The latter term refers to the conditions under which the plants were grown or animals were raised. There are no official rules governing the labeling of organic foods (for humans or pets) at this time, but the United States Department of Agriculture is developing regulations dictating what types of pesticides, fertilizers and other substances can be used in organic farming.¹
How about the term "Natural Organic" dog food?
"Human-Grade Meat" Human-grade meat must be tested and certified by organizations like the FDA, USDA and Oregon Tilth. For this reason, they should be considered safe for your dog and added to their diets to supplement the unregulated pet foods.
"Animal by-products" Animal by-products commonly found in commercial dog food can include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and fecal waste.
"Meat and bone meal" (usually made of ground bone, gristle and tendons) is the cheapest and least nutritious of all the by-product meals. It is linked to being unhealthy in many ways such as leading to canine tumors. About 25% of the protein in meat meal cannot be used by dogs' bodies.
"Crude" means the content regardless of quality or digestibility, leaving you without any means to determine the true quality of the product from this analysis.
The effects of artificial coloring have not been fully tested, but they are believed to increase sensitivity to viruses and could potentially cause cancer.
"Filler" carbs, on the other hand, such as sugar and corn syrup lead to dog obesity. They fill your dog up with unhealthy food that takes the place of nutrient-rich wholesome food. In contrast, good natural organic dog food uses vitamin and nutrient-rich sources of carbohydrates.
Natural organic dog food is never derived from genetically modified plants and animals.
Manufacturers who use quality ingredients don't have anything to hide - they will proudly display e.g. chicken meal, whole grains and fresh vegetables. Those who are using ingredients like chicken byproduct meal, brewer's rice and corn gluten meal would have a hard time justifying the price of their foods.
This article will give you a quick overview about what the labels on a pet food tell you - and more important what they don't tell you. It is based on the FDA consumer information provided by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (parts are quoted in the grey boxes) and has my own comments added below. I have chosen not to simply link to that page and let it speak for itself, since it cites overly long examples but leaves out some relevant information entirely and is also outdated in some respects.
If the name of a food includes the phrase "with [ingredient]" (e.g. "with beef"), the named ingredient must not be less than 3% of the total weight.Ingredient list example for "Product X With Real Lamb and Rice":
Ground yellow corn, chicken byproduct meal, wheat, animal fat, corn gluten meal, lamb , rice, natural poultry flavor, salt, minerals, vitamins...
Last but not least, if a name only includes the word "flavor" or "flavored", no specific percentage is required at all, but a product must contain an amount sufficient to be able to be detected.If you buy a "flavored" product, you are guaranteed to find only a minute amount of the flavoring ingredient in it, while the predominant ingredients are not mentioned in the name at all. Ingredient list example for "Product X with Liver Flavor":
Ground yellow corn, poultry byproduct meal, brewers rice, soybean meal, beef tallow, corn gluten meal, brewers dried yeast, digest of beef liver, natural flavors, salt, vitamins, minerals...
The "manufactured by..." statement identifies the party responsible for the quality and safety of the product and its location. If the label says "manufactured for..." or "distributed by...," the food was manufactured by an outside manufacturer, but the name on the label still designates the responsible party. Not all labels include a street address along with the city, State, and zip code, but by law, it should be listed in either a city directory or a telephone directory. Many manufacturers also include a toll-free number on the label for consumer inquiries. If a consumer has a question or complaint about the product, he or she should not hesitate to use this information to contact the responsible party.
All ingredients are required to be listed in order of predominance by weight. The weights of ingredients are determined as they are added in the formulation, including their inherent water content. [...]"Listed in order of predominance by weight" refers to the weight before processing. This is important to know when you are comparing products with different moisture content. Even in dry foods this can be a difference of 4%, or even more if dry and semi-moist kibble are mixed in the same bag. More important though, manufacturers can use this rule to make their product look better than it actually is by using little tricks like ingredient splitting or use of better quality ingredients that still retain a lot of water, but the dehydrated versions of less desirable components.
To recognize whether a food even includes any real meat, you need to know the ingredient definitions. Some animal proteins in "meal" form are of high quality, including for example the whole carcasses of slaughtered chickens minus feathers, heads, feet, or entrails; while ones like "beef & bone meal" are made from any leftovers after the quality cuts of meat have been removed for human consumption. Here are two example ingredient lists of foods that do not contain a quality meat source whatsoever, despite the pretty images on the bag:
"Crude" means the content regardless of quality or digestibility, leaving you without any means to determine the true quality of the product from this analysis. A chunk of meat and a handful of ground up feathers are both sources of protein, chicken fat and discarded restaurant grease both provide fat. Which would you rather pay for, but much more important - which would you rather feed your dog day in and day out?
Different sources of protein and fat vary in digestibility and content of valuable nutrients required to maintain good health. The amount of food your dog has to eat (and conversely the amount of cleanup to do, food to buy and money to spend) strongly depends on the concentration of nutrients present in a product. Approximate digestibility values (not the "biological value", which is a completely different concept) for protein (based on information published by T.J. Dunn, Jr. DVM):
Various meat and bone meals and byproduct meals range from about 45% to 80%, depending on the content of bone vs. more digestible parts.
While fats are the main source of energy in a dog food, they also supply essential fatty acids, prevent dehydration and serve as carriers for fat soluble vitamins. Chicken fat, sunflower oil, various coldwater fish oils and flax oil/seed are rich in nutrients, while cheaper ingredients like animal fat, beef tallow, and lard (though very palatable to dogs, who just love the taste) lack significant and balanced amounts and are often of questionable quality.
An interesting side note: Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for example are still not recognized as essential nutrients by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profile. It is interesting that they are often referred to by dieticians as "essential fatty acids" though and increased supplementation often solves many health problems. Go figure.
Many pet foods are labeled as "premium," and some now are "super premium" and even "ultra premium." Other products are touted as "gourmet" items. Products labeled as premium or gourmet are not required to contain any different or higher quality ingredients, nor are they held up to any higher nutritional standards than are any other complete and balanced products.
The term "natural" is often used on pet food labels, although that term does not have an official definition either. For the most part, "natural" can be construed as equivalent to a lack of artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives in the product. [...]
"Natural" is not the same as "organic." The latter term refers to the conditions under which the plants were grown or animals were raised. There are no official rules governing the labeling of organic foods (for humans or pets) at this time, but the United States Department of Agriculture is developing regulations dictating what types of pesticides, fertilizers and other substances can be used in organic farming.
Are you ready to get hungry?
until a more truthful, customer-friendly labeling system is implemented, the majority of pet owners will be swayed by marketing gimmicks and eye-catching claims because watching cute commercials requires less effort than understanding the information on the label.
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www.organic-pet-digest
AAFCO has no regulatory power. They only provide guidelines for companies and the states to follow if desired, so you are right to be skeptical about any brand until you have fully researched it for yourself. - See more at:
Lamb is not the same as lamb meal or lamb by-products, which is why you should pay particular attention to the dog food label ingredient list. -
For example, meat contains about 75% water. Although it may be listed first on the ingredients list, it may not provide the amount of protein that your dog needs (or you think you’re getting).
Several dog food ingredients have been found to be harmful but have not yet been addressed by the loosely regulated pet food agencies. These ingredients include:
Any artificial coloring, Any artificial flavoring, Ammoniated lgycyrrhizin, Bone meal, Butylated hydroxytoluene (bht), Chicken by-products, Corn syrup, Digest of poultry by-products, Dried animal digest, Dried liver digest, Ethoxyquin, Fish by-products, Fish meal, Liver glandular meal, Meat by-products, Potassium sorbate, Poultry by-products, Poultry by-product meal, Propyl gallate, Propylene glycol, Sodium nitrate, Sucrose
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Watch Your Labels!
Purina
Further down the list, you'll see many chemical-sounding names that correspond to vitamins and minerals.
It's important to know how to navigate the information contained in a dog food label. Just know that any time you choose a dog food from Purina, you can be confident you've selected a dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition.
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Hills
Pet food labels only tell part of the nutritional story
Pet food labels provide basic and limited information. The labels focus on ingredients, nutrient levels (known as "guaranteed analysis") and nutritional adequacy or a statement by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which verifies the testing method for nutrient guidelines.
At Hill's Pet Nutrition, we believe other considerations must be recognized when deciding on your dog's food to enrich his well-being.
Nutrient Needs
The guaranteed analysis can be confusing and somewhat misleading. It provides minimum and maximum levels of some of the nutrients, four of which are required on every label. Those required nutrients are:
To further evaluate the product, we advise you to obtain the actual nutritional content from the manufacturer through the product information toll-free number on the product packaging.
Nutritional Adequacy Statement or "AAFCO Statement"
Every pet food label must contain a statement and validation of nutritional adequacy. AAFCO regulations allow two basic methods for pet food manufacturers to substantiate claims.
Clinically Proven
The term "clinically proven" on a package or pet food label means the claim must be supported by two clinical studies. All Science Diet dry dog foods contain clinically proven antioxidants. Many Hill's® Prescription Diet® therapeutic dog foods are clinically proven to support dogs with various health conditions.
Chicken Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Pork Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Whole Grain Sorghum, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Oil, Lactic Acid, Flaxseed, Pork Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Iodized Salt, Potassium Chloride, L-lysine, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Oat Fiber, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors, Dried Apples, Dried Broccoli, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Peas.
We make every bag of our dry dog food in our own US facilities with high quality natural ingredients from North America, Europe and New Zealand. These ingredients must meet our strict requirements for purity and nutrient content, which exceed industry standards.
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petmdsources
Without that water weight, the meat probably would fall lower on the ingredient list.
Meat meals, such as chicken meal or meat and bone meal, are different; most of the water and fat have been removed, which concentrates the animal protein.
Liver, which is a byproduct, is rich in nutrients such as vitamin A. Meat byproducts also can contain blood, bone, brains, stomachs, udders, and cleaned intestines, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Byproducts don't include hair, horns, teeth, and hooves, although an exception is allowed for amounts that occur unavoidably during processing.
Meat meal also may contain animal parts that many people consider to be byproducts. An ingredient listed as “chicken” or “beef” may include the heart, esophagus, tongue, and diaphragm. Although all these ingredients may sound unpalatable to you, your dog would probably disagree. So don’t necessarily balk if you see byproducts in the ingredients list.
Federal rules to guard against the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) ban some previously allowed cattle and buffalo parts in animal feed, including pet food. The FDA rule bans the inclusion of body parts from any animal that has tested positive for mad cow disease, as well as brains and spinal cords from older animals, as these are considered to be at higher risk of the disease.
Some pet owners don't want to buy food that contains the synthetic preservatives BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), or ethoxyquin. These preservatives stop fats from turning rancid and can keep dry dog food fresh for about a year, but their safety has been questioned by some consumers and scientists. But the FDA says they’re safe at the level used in dog food.
“There is a debate about whether there is a need to avoid artificial ingredients like these, as conventional safety testing says they’re fine,” says Susan Wynn, DVM, AHG, a nutritionist for Georgia Veterinary Specialists in the Atlanta area and a clinical resident in small animal nutrition with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. “I wouldn’t want them in my diet every day though, and I try to avoid them in my dog’s daily diet.”
Ethoxyquin came under scrutiny in the 1990s after complaints of skin allergies, reproductive problems, cancer, and organ failure in some dogs given food with this preservative. In 1997, the FDA asked dog food makers to halve the maximum allowed amount of ethoxyquin after tests conducted by manufacturer Monsanto Company showed possible liver damage in dogs fed high levels of the preservative.
Some manufacturers no longer use ethoxyquin, BHA, or BHT, instead using natural preservatives such as vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and extracts of various plants, such as rosemary. Those also keep food fresh, but for a shorter period. Be sure to check a food’s “best by” date on the label before buying or feeding it to your pet.
Many pet food makers follow model regulations set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that establish the minimum amount of nutrients needed to provide a complete and balanced diet. The statement may say the food is formulated to meet AAFCO standards or that it has been tested in feeding trials and found to provide complete nutrition.
The AAFCO statement also should say what life stage the food is appropriate for. For puppies, look for a food suitable for growth or all life stages. For adult dogs, look for adult maintenance or all life stages. Nutritional needs for senior dogs can vary, depending on health conditions, and there is no AAFCO standard for senior food.
Some dog food labels also list the percentage of other ingredients, such as calcium and phosphorous.
Low-fat dog foods often contain less fat and more fiber, to fill up a dog without adding calories.
At least 10% of the daily diet, by weight, should be protein, and 5.5% should be fat, according to the National Research Council, a scientific research unit of the nonprofit National Academies. Dog foods typically contain higher amounts than those, because dogs may not be able to digest all of the nutrients in a food
“It’s difficult to confirm those claims are truly accurate,” says Teresa Crenshaw, interim chair of AAFCO’s pet food committee. Although pet food can be made in a USDA-inspected plant, it may happen when there is no inspector present, Crenshaw says. Meat once considered safe for humans may have spoiled and been diverted to pet food, she says. Neither claim means the food is safe for humans to eat.
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www.dummies.com
Legally, dog food labels are required to state just the minimum levels of protein and fat and the maximum levels of moisture and fiber in the food. Keep in mind that the dog food may have more than the minimum amounts or less than the maximum amounts of components.
Dog food manufacturers are required to list every ingredient in descending order by amount on a dry-weight basis.
In general, a good-quality dog food will have two quality animal protein sources listed in the first few ingredients. Look for a food that also has two different sources of fat in the ingredient list, for adequate energy and to provide all the essential fatty acids.
Poultry, turkey, or chicken fat are higher in quality than animal tallow, because they have more unsaturated fatty acids and are more digestible. Sources of linoleic acid, which is an important omega-6 fatty acid, include most vegetable oils — soybean, lecithin, corn oil, wheat germ oil, sesame seed oil, and linseed oil, so look for these on your dog food label as well.
Every dog food label must have recommendations regarding how much to feed dogs of different sizes. These guidelines usually overestimate the amount of food a typical dog needs to eat every day. Cynics say that this is a ploy on the part of the dog food manufacturers to sell more food.
The dog food manufacturers indicate that these guidelines are based on calculations of what typical dogs in their feeding trials needed to satisfy their energy requirements. The dogs in these feeding trials get a great deal of exercise so this may be true, but most dogs need much less food than the amount listed on the bag.
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WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO FIND IN YOUR PET FOOD
In short, the FDA believes (but is not certain) that melamine is the culprit.Even though it has no approved use in food or fertilizer in the United States, melamine somehow found its way into about 1% of the pet food supply. More specifically, the recall of dog food came as a result of melamine found in the wheat gluten ingredient, which is added to many pet foods in order to thicken the “gravy.” According to Menu Foods, a pet food supplier to many pet food companies, the contaminated wheat gluten came from a new supplier in China. They realized there was a problem after several reported illnesses and deaths of cats and dogs who had eaten some of their “cuts and gravy” style products. They made the first recall of dog food and cat food on their own of about 100 different brand name products.In addition, 100% of all wheat gluten from China is being inspected along with a sampling from the Netherlands, since Xuzhou Anying shipped some of its wheat gluten there.( As China continues to buy up international andAMERICAN companies you can expect to see moreof this kind of stuff not only in pet foods but in human foods also....)Certified natural and organic dog food and/or raw natural dog food are the only sure-fire way to avoid the problem. - See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/recall-of-dog-food.html#sthash.jjFoEG4d.dpuf
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peteducation.com/
Meat: Meat is the clean flesh of slaughtered animals (chicken, cattle, lamb, turkey, etc.). The flesh can include striated skeletal muscle, tongue, diaphragm, heart, esophagus, overlying fat and the skin, sinew, nerves and blood vessels normally found with that flesh.
Meat By-products: Meat by-products are clean parts of slaughtered animals, not including meat. These include lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, some fatty tissue, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth, or hooves.
Poultry By-products: Poultry by-products are clean parts of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and internal organs (like heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and intestines). It does not contain feathers.
Fish Meal: Fish meal is the clean ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish or fish cuttings, with or without the oil extracted.
Ground Corn: Ground corn is the entire corn kernel ground or chopped.
Corn Gluten Meal: Corn gluten meal is the by-product after the manufacture of corn syrup or starch, and is the dried residue after the removal of the bran, germ, and starch.
Brewers Rice: Brewers rice is the small fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from larger kernels of milled rice.
Brown Rice: Brown rice is the unpolished rice left over after the kernels have been removed.
Soybean Meal: Soybean meal is a by-product of the production of soybean oil.
BHA: BHA is butylated hydroxyanisole, a fat preservative.
Ethoxyquin: Ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative that is used to prevent spoilage in dog food.
Tocopherols: Tocopherols (e.g., vitamin E) are naturally occurring compounds used as natural preservatives.
I currently feed Innova's EVO - Red Meat, Small Bites. Issa is thriving magnificiently on the food, and I am grateful for it. However, to anyone feeding Innova, Innova's EVO, California Natural, or any other pet food manufactured by Natura Manufacturing... Please be aware that Natura sold their plants and formulas to Proctor & Gamble, who produces very low quality dog food. Save your dog food labels! Compare each new bag's ingredients to the old bag. If you notice a change in ingredients, or in content, switch to another premium food. Wellness CORE, Before Grain, Orijen, Arcana, and other grain-free, meat based foods exist. Don't let your dog suffer because Natura sold out! Be vigilant about your dog's food, and your dog will reward you with many years of healthy companionship
How about the term "Natural Organic" dog food?
"Human-Grade Meat" Human-grade meat must be tested and certified by organizations like the FDA, USDA and Oregon Tilth. For this reason, they should be considered safe for your dog and added to their diets to supplement the unregulated pet foods.
"Animal by-products" Animal by-products commonly found in commercial dog food can include feathers, hair, leather, gristle and fecal waste.
"Meat and bone meal" (usually made of ground bone, gristle and tendons) is the cheapest and least nutritious of all the by-product meals. It is linked to being unhealthy in many ways such as leading to canine tumors. About 25% of the protein in meat meal cannot be used by dogs' bodies.
"Crude" means the content regardless of quality or digestibility, leaving you without any means to determine the true quality of the product from this analysis.
The effects of artificial coloring have not been fully tested, but they are believed to increase sensitivity to viruses and could potentially cause cancer.
"Filler" carbs, on the other hand, such as sugar and corn syrup lead to dog obesity. They fill your dog up with unhealthy food that takes the place of nutrient-rich wholesome food. In contrast, good natural organic dog food uses vitamin and nutrient-rich sources of carbohydrates.
Genetically Modified Orxganism (GMO)
GMO refers to plants and animals that have been genetically modified (GM). Negatives of products with genetic modification include:Natural organic dog food is never derived from genetically modified plants and animals.
- Environmental damage – long term effects on the environment are unknown.
- Risk to food web – could genetically altered crops hurt other animals that feed on them?
- Cross-pollination – we don't know the effect on the offspring of GM crops that cross-pollinate with non-GM crops. Could the prevalence of stronger crops create stronger pests that we may not be able to control?
- Allergies and toxins – very little research has been conducted on the effect of GM food on long-term human health.
- Disease – some crops are modified using DNA from viruses and bacteria. Could this lead to new kinds of disease?
Manufacturers who use quality ingredients don't have anything to hide - they will proudly display e.g. chicken meal, whole grains and fresh vegetables. Those who are using ingredients like chicken byproduct meal, brewer's rice and corn gluten meal would have a hard time justifying the price of their foods.
This article will give you a quick overview about what the labels on a pet food tell you - and more important what they don't tell you. It is based on the FDA consumer information provided by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (parts are quoted in the grey boxes) and has my own comments added below. I have chosen not to simply link to that page and let it speak for itself, since it cites overly long examples but leaves out some relevant information entirely and is also outdated in some respects.
If the name of a food includes the phrase "with [ingredient]" (e.g. "with beef"), the named ingredient must not be less than 3% of the total weight.Ingredient list example for "Product X With Real Lamb and Rice":
Ground yellow corn, chicken byproduct meal, wheat, animal fat, corn gluten meal, lamb , rice, natural poultry flavor, salt, minerals, vitamins...
Last but not least, if a name only includes the word "flavor" or "flavored", no specific percentage is required at all, but a product must contain an amount sufficient to be able to be detected.If you buy a "flavored" product, you are guaranteed to find only a minute amount of the flavoring ingredient in it, while the predominant ingredients are not mentioned in the name at all. Ingredient list example for "Product X with Liver Flavor":
Ground yellow corn, poultry byproduct meal, brewers rice, soybean meal, beef tallow, corn gluten meal, brewers dried yeast, digest of beef liver, natural flavors, salt, vitamins, minerals...
The "manufactured by..." statement identifies the party responsible for the quality and safety of the product and its location. If the label says "manufactured for..." or "distributed by...," the food was manufactured by an outside manufacturer, but the name on the label still designates the responsible party. Not all labels include a street address along with the city, State, and zip code, but by law, it should be listed in either a city directory or a telephone directory. Many manufacturers also include a toll-free number on the label for consumer inquiries. If a consumer has a question or complaint about the product, he or she should not hesitate to use this information to contact the responsible party.
All ingredients are required to be listed in order of predominance by weight. The weights of ingredients are determined as they are added in the formulation, including their inherent water content. [...]"Listed in order of predominance by weight" refers to the weight before processing. This is important to know when you are comparing products with different moisture content. Even in dry foods this can be a difference of 4%, or even more if dry and semi-moist kibble are mixed in the same bag. More important though, manufacturers can use this rule to make their product look better than it actually is by using little tricks like ingredient splitting or use of better quality ingredients that still retain a lot of water, but the dehydrated versions of less desirable components.
To recognize whether a food even includes any real meat, you need to know the ingredient definitions. Some animal proteins in "meal" form are of high quality, including for example the whole carcasses of slaughtered chickens minus feathers, heads, feet, or entrails; while ones like "beef & bone meal" are made from any leftovers after the quality cuts of meat have been removed for human consumption. Here are two example ingredient lists of foods that do not contain a quality meat source whatsoever, despite the pretty images on the bag:
"Crude" means the content regardless of quality or digestibility, leaving you without any means to determine the true quality of the product from this analysis. A chunk of meat and a handful of ground up feathers are both sources of protein, chicken fat and discarded restaurant grease both provide fat. Which would you rather pay for, but much more important - which would you rather feed your dog day in and day out?
Different sources of protein and fat vary in digestibility and content of valuable nutrients required to maintain good health. The amount of food your dog has to eat (and conversely the amount of cleanup to do, food to buy and money to spend) strongly depends on the concentration of nutrients present in a product. Approximate digestibility values (not the "biological value", which is a completely different concept) for protein (based on information published by T.J. Dunn, Jr. DVM):
- Egg whites and whey protein 100%
- Muscle meats (chicken slightly higher than beef or lamb) 92%
- Organ meats (heart, kidney, liver) 90%
- Fish, whole soybeans (not leftover fragments!) 75%,
- Rice 72%
- Oats 66%
- Yeast 63%
- Wheat 60%
- Corn 54%
Various meat and bone meals and byproduct meals range from about 45% to 80%, depending on the content of bone vs. more digestible parts.
While fats are the main source of energy in a dog food, they also supply essential fatty acids, prevent dehydration and serve as carriers for fat soluble vitamins. Chicken fat, sunflower oil, various coldwater fish oils and flax oil/seed are rich in nutrients, while cheaper ingredients like animal fat, beef tallow, and lard (though very palatable to dogs, who just love the taste) lack significant and balanced amounts and are often of questionable quality.
An interesting side note: Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for example are still not recognized as essential nutrients by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profile. It is interesting that they are often referred to by dieticians as "essential fatty acids" though and increased supplementation often solves many health problems. Go figure.
Many pet foods are labeled as "premium," and some now are "super premium" and even "ultra premium." Other products are touted as "gourmet" items. Products labeled as premium or gourmet are not required to contain any different or higher quality ingredients, nor are they held up to any higher nutritional standards than are any other complete and balanced products.
The term "natural" is often used on pet food labels, although that term does not have an official definition either. For the most part, "natural" can be construed as equivalent to a lack of artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives in the product. [...]
"Natural" is not the same as "organic." The latter term refers to the conditions under which the plants were grown or animals were raised. There are no official rules governing the labeling of organic foods (for humans or pets) at this time, but the United States Department of Agriculture is developing regulations dictating what types of pesticides, fertilizers and other substances can be used in organic farming.
Are you ready to get hungry?
until a more truthful, customer-friendly labeling system is implemented, the majority of pet owners will be swayed by marketing gimmicks and eye-catching claims because watching cute commercials requires less effort than understanding the information on the label.
----------------------
www.organic-pet-digest
AAFCO has no regulatory power. They only provide guidelines for companies and the states to follow if desired, so you are right to be skeptical about any brand until you have fully researched it for yourself. - See more at:
Lamb is not the same as lamb meal or lamb by-products, which is why you should pay particular attention to the dog food label ingredient list. -
For example, meat contains about 75% water. Although it may be listed first on the ingredients list, it may not provide the amount of protein that your dog needs (or you think you’re getting).
Several dog food ingredients have been found to be harmful but have not yet been addressed by the loosely regulated pet food agencies. These ingredients include:
Any artificial coloring, Any artificial flavoring, Ammoniated lgycyrrhizin, Bone meal, Butylated hydroxytoluene (bht), Chicken by-products, Corn syrup, Digest of poultry by-products, Dried animal digest, Dried liver digest, Ethoxyquin, Fish by-products, Fish meal, Liver glandular meal, Meat by-products, Potassium sorbate, Poultry by-products, Poultry by-product meal, Propyl gallate, Propylene glycol, Sodium nitrate, Sucrose
- Protein – dog food labels do not distinguish between the biological value and digestibility of the protein in their products
- Vitamins & minerals in dog food may be lost through heat processing. This is especially true for Vitamins A, E and B in dog food which are very important in fighting disease. Manufactured foods may contain minerals in their basic form, but it is doubtful that they are as beneficial as the complex forms found in nature.
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Watch Your Labels!
Purina
Understanding Your Dog’s Food Label
Unsure what to look for when reading a dog food label? The following guide will help you navigate and locate the information you encounter when selecting the food that's right for your dog.Government Regulations
According to government regulations, the label on every bag or can of dog food shall contain the following information:Overview
This section contains a branded name, like Purina® Dog Chow®, along with an indication of the primary ingredient or a formula name such as chicken and rice.Net Weight Statement
This indicates how much food is contained in the bag or can.Manufacturer's Name and Address
Identifies where the product was made in case you have questions or comments about the product.Ingredient List
Just like human food, the ingredients are listed in descending order of content weight.Further down the list, you'll see many chemical-sounding names that correspond to vitamins and minerals.
Guaranteed Analysis
State regulations recommend a minimum level of certain nutrients. The guaranteed analysis shows the dog food's minimum or maximum level of essential nutrients.Nutritional Adequacy Statement
To substantiate claims, dog food must be complete and balanced to meet or exceed the standards of an established profile, or be proven to meet certain nutritional recommendations.Feeding Directions
Follow these instructions to determine how much food to feed your dog each day. These are just guidelines, and you may need to increase or decrease the amount of food you feed to help maintain your dog’s ideal body condition.Calorie Statement
This is expressed on a kilocalorie per kilogram basis. It may also be expressed as a common unit of measure, such as kilocalories per cup. This information will help you get a handle on the differences between dry dog food brands.It's important to know how to navigate the information contained in a dog food label. Just know that any time you choose a dog food from Purina, you can be confident you've selected a dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition.
Corn Benefits Dogs
Corn has come under scrutiny lately in discussions about human food and dog food alike. Some dog food companies are even substituting other ingredients, like potatoes, for corn.- Corn provides protein, energy, and linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid for dogs.
- Ounce for ounce, corn has twice the level of antioxidants as an apple.
Evidence-based Recipes
While we do provide corn-free foods for the less than 1-percent of dogs that may have sensitivity to corn, we stand behind our decision to include corn in the majority of our dog foods. Until our scientists can find evidence that removing corn would benefit dogs, we won't do it.(sensitivity is one thing, able to digest is another)The Good: Omega-3 and Omega 6- Fatty Acids
Omega-6 fatty acids are found in plant sources whereas Omega-3 fatty acids are typically found in marine sources. These fatty acids are important components of a dog’s diet and have a variety of biological functions, including promoting healthy skin, coat and immune system, and helping to regulate inflammation.The Bad: Raw Diets
You know raw meat is bad for people, but some pet owners believe raw is good, and even healthy for pets. A raw food diet is unhealthy for dogs and cats alike. According to the FDA, These diets may also expose dogs to the threat of foodborne pathogens. (and comercial diets dont?)A Balanced Diet For Dogs Includes Grains
Many people believe dogs are carnivores. In fact, dogs are omnivores, and even wolves in the wild derive nutrition from both plant and animal sources.Grains are Nutritious
When you look at the research, the evidence stacks up that grains are nutritious and effective for your dog. Learn more about the power of grains for dogs.Watch the Calories
Table scraps can contribute to excess calories in your dog’s diet, leading to unwelcome weight gain. Treats may be a better option, though they should be limited to no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories.--0-0-0-0-----0
Hills
Pet food labels only tell part of the nutritional story
Pet food labels provide basic and limited information. The labels focus on ingredients, nutrient levels (known as "guaranteed analysis") and nutritional adequacy or a statement by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which verifies the testing method for nutrient guidelines.
At Hill's Pet Nutrition, we believe other considerations must be recognized when deciding on your dog's food to enrich his well-being.
Nutrient Needs
- Your dog's nutrient needs can vary with:
- Age
- Activity, lifestyle or special needs
- Reproductive status
- Health
- Environment
- Breed
- Nutritional deficiencies are harmful. As a dog owner, you should know that nutritional excesses can be as harmful and are more common than nutritional deficiencies.
- It's important to know that excess fat can result in diabetes and heart, joint or respiratory disease. Excess protein can cause liver or kidney disease. Excess calcium can result in urinary bladder stones and skeletal disease.
- Lifestage nutrition, which is designed to meet a dog's needs at a specific age and physical state, helps protect against nutritional excesses. Hill's adheres to the lifestage nutritional practice for dogs from the growth phase to the adult and mature phases of life.
The guaranteed analysis can be confusing and somewhat misleading. It provides minimum and maximum levels of some of the nutrients, four of which are required on every label. Those required nutrients are:
- Protein (shown as a minimum %)
- Fat (shown as a minimum %)
- Fiber (shown as a maximum %)
- Moisture (shown as a maximum %)
To further evaluate the product, we advise you to obtain the actual nutritional content from the manufacturer through the product information toll-free number on the product packaging.
Nutritional Adequacy Statement or "AAFCO Statement"
Every pet food label must contain a statement and validation of nutritional adequacy. AAFCO regulations allow two basic methods for pet food manufacturers to substantiate claims.
- Formulation Method — Requires the manufacturer to formulate the food to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for dogs and cats.
- This method is less time consuming and less expensive because feeding trials with pets are not required, only a calculation of the nutrient levels.
- An example of an AAFCO statement using the formulation method would be: "Brand ABC Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Cat Food Profiles for maintenance of adult cats."
- Feeding Trial Method — Requires the manufacturer perform an AAFCO-protocol feeding trial using the food as the sole source of nutrition.
- Gold Standard or preferred method.
- Documents the pets' performance when fed the food.
- An example of an AAFCO statement using the feeding trial method would be: "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand X Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs."
- "Natural" has been legally defined and requires a pet food to consist of only natural ingredients without chemical alterations, except for vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients.
- "Organic" has been legally defined for human foods by the USDA. Pet food companies can currently use the term "organic" if they follow the same rules as applied to human foods. Note that natural and organic are not interchangeable terms.
- "Holistic" has no legal definition and is unregulated with regard to pet food. Any pet food could use the term "holistic" in marketing their product. The term currently has no meaning in pet food.
- "Human grade" is not an allowed term on a pet food label, unless the food is made in a plant approved for manufacturing human food. Because of this, there are very few pet foods that are labeled "human grade." However, this regulation doesn't apply to advertising and websites, so some pet food companies will tout "human grade" ingredients in their products.
Clinically Proven
The term "clinically proven" on a package or pet food label means the claim must be supported by two clinical studies. All Science Diet dry dog foods contain clinically proven antioxidants. Many Hill's® Prescription Diet® therapeutic dog foods are clinically proven to support dogs with various health conditions.
Other Products to Consider
Science Diet® is available in a wide variety of foods for your puppy's unique needs. Canned puppy food is available from Science Diet® in several flavors such as delicious Gourmet Chicken Entrée that your puppy will love. Also try Science Diet® treats that are sure to please!Chicken Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Pork Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Whole Grain Sorghum, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Oil, Lactic Acid, Flaxseed, Pork Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Iodized Salt, Potassium Chloride, L-lysine, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Oat Fiber, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors, Dried Apples, Dried Broccoli, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Peas.
We make every bag of our dry dog food in our own US facilities with high quality natural ingredients from North America, Europe and New Zealand. These ingredients must meet our strict requirements for purity and nutrient content, which exceed industry standards.
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petmdsources
How do I read the dog food ingredient list?
Like packaged food for people, pet food must list ingredients by weight, starting with the heaviest. But if the first ingredient is a type of meat, keep in mind that meat is about 75% water, according to the FDA.Without that water weight, the meat probably would fall lower on the ingredient list.
Meat meals, such as chicken meal or meat and bone meal, are different; most of the water and fat have been removed, which concentrates the animal protein.
. What are byproducts, and should I avoid dog foods that contain them?
Veterinarians say that’s a matter of personal choice. Any pet food labeled as “complete and balanced” should meet your dog’s nutritional needs.Liver, which is a byproduct, is rich in nutrients such as vitamin A. Meat byproducts also can contain blood, bone, brains, stomachs, udders, and cleaned intestines, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Byproducts don't include hair, horns, teeth, and hooves, although an exception is allowed for amounts that occur unavoidably during processing.
Meat meal also may contain animal parts that many people consider to be byproducts. An ingredient listed as “chicken” or “beef” may include the heart, esophagus, tongue, and diaphragm. Although all these ingredients may sound unpalatable to you, your dog would probably disagree. So don’t necessarily balk if you see byproducts in the ingredients list.
Federal rules to guard against the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) ban some previously allowed cattle and buffalo parts in animal feed, including pet food. The FDA rule bans the inclusion of body parts from any animal that has tested positive for mad cow disease, as well as brains and spinal cords from older animals, as these are considered to be at higher risk of the disease.
What are all those chemical-sounding names lower on the ingredient list?
Preservatives, artificial colors, and stabilizers in pet food must be either approved by the FDA or be generally recognized as safe, a category that includes everything from high fructose corn syrup to benzoyl peroxide, used to bleach flours and cheese. Manufacturers must list the preservatives they add, but they do not always list preservatives in ingredients such as fish meal or chicken that are processed elsewhere.Some pet owners don't want to buy food that contains the synthetic preservatives BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), or ethoxyquin. These preservatives stop fats from turning rancid and can keep dry dog food fresh for about a year, but their safety has been questioned by some consumers and scientists. But the FDA says they’re safe at the level used in dog food.
“There is a debate about whether there is a need to avoid artificial ingredients like these, as conventional safety testing says they’re fine,” says Susan Wynn, DVM, AHG, a nutritionist for Georgia Veterinary Specialists in the Atlanta area and a clinical resident in small animal nutrition with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. “I wouldn’t want them in my diet every day though, and I try to avoid them in my dog’s daily diet.”
Ethoxyquin came under scrutiny in the 1990s after complaints of skin allergies, reproductive problems, cancer, and organ failure in some dogs given food with this preservative. In 1997, the FDA asked dog food makers to halve the maximum allowed amount of ethoxyquin after tests conducted by manufacturer Monsanto Company showed possible liver damage in dogs fed high levels of the preservative.
Some manufacturers no longer use ethoxyquin, BHA, or BHT, instead using natural preservatives such as vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and extracts of various plants, such as rosemary. Those also keep food fresh, but for a shorter period. Be sure to check a food’s “best by” date on the label before buying or feeding it to your pet.
How can I make sure the food meets my dog’s needs?
Look for a statement of nutritional adequacy on the label.Many pet food makers follow model regulations set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that establish the minimum amount of nutrients needed to provide a complete and balanced diet. The statement may say the food is formulated to meet AAFCO standards or that it has been tested in feeding trials and found to provide complete nutrition.
The AAFCO statement also should say what life stage the food is appropriate for. For puppies, look for a food suitable for growth or all life stages. For adult dogs, look for adult maintenance or all life stages. Nutritional needs for senior dogs can vary, depending on health conditions, and there is no AAFCO standard for senior food.
Some dog food labels also list the percentage of other ingredients, such as calcium and phosphorous.
Low-fat dog foods often contain less fat and more fiber, to fill up a dog without adding calories.
At least 10% of the daily diet, by weight, should be protein, and 5.5% should be fat, according to the National Research Council, a scientific research unit of the nonprofit National Academies. Dog foods typically contain higher amounts than those, because dogs may not be able to digest all of the nutrients in a food
What do “natural” and “holistic” labels mean?
Legally, not much. Food labeled as natural should contain few, if any, synthetic ingredients. Holistic, along with premium and super-premium, are marketing terms and there is no rule that controls how they’re used. Watch out for marketing terms like “human-grade ingredients” or “made in a USDA-inspected facility,” too.“It’s difficult to confirm those claims are truly accurate,” says Teresa Crenshaw, interim chair of AAFCO’s pet food committee. Although pet food can be made in a USDA-inspected plant, it may happen when there is no inspector present, Crenshaw says. Meat once considered safe for humans may have spoiled and been diverted to pet food, she says. Neither claim means the food is safe for humans to eat.
. What is organic pet food?
There is no official definition for it. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program, which sets rules for using an "organic" label, is reviewing the issue.---------------
www.dummies.com
Legally, dog food labels are required to state just the minimum levels of protein and fat and the maximum levels of moisture and fiber in the food. Keep in mind that the dog food may have more than the minimum amounts or less than the maximum amounts of components.
Dog food manufacturers are required to list every ingredient in descending order by amount on a dry-weight basis.
In general, a good-quality dog food will have two quality animal protein sources listed in the first few ingredients. Look for a food that also has two different sources of fat in the ingredient list, for adequate energy and to provide all the essential fatty acids.
Poultry, turkey, or chicken fat are higher in quality than animal tallow, because they have more unsaturated fatty acids and are more digestible. Sources of linoleic acid, which is an important omega-6 fatty acid, include most vegetable oils — soybean, lecithin, corn oil, wheat germ oil, sesame seed oil, and linseed oil, so look for these on your dog food label as well.
Every dog food label must have recommendations regarding how much to feed dogs of different sizes. These guidelines usually overestimate the amount of food a typical dog needs to eat every day. Cynics say that this is a ploy on the part of the dog food manufacturers to sell more food.
The dog food manufacturers indicate that these guidelines are based on calculations of what typical dogs in their feeding trials needed to satisfy their energy requirements. The dogs in these feeding trials get a great deal of exercise so this may be true, but most dogs need much less food than the amount listed on the bag.
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WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO FIND IN YOUR PET FOOD
In short, the FDA believes (but is not certain) that melamine is the culprit.Even though it has no approved use in food or fertilizer in the United States, melamine somehow found its way into about 1% of the pet food supply. More specifically, the recall of dog food came as a result of melamine found in the wheat gluten ingredient, which is added to many pet foods in order to thicken the “gravy.” According to Menu Foods, a pet food supplier to many pet food companies, the contaminated wheat gluten came from a new supplier in China. They realized there was a problem after several reported illnesses and deaths of cats and dogs who had eaten some of their “cuts and gravy” style products. They made the first recall of dog food and cat food on their own of about 100 different brand name products.In addition, 100% of all wheat gluten from China is being inspected along with a sampling from the Netherlands, since Xuzhou Anying shipped some of its wheat gluten there.( As China continues to buy up international andAMERICAN companies you can expect to see moreof this kind of stuff not only in pet foods but in human foods also....)Certified natural and organic dog food and/or raw natural dog food are the only sure-fire way to avoid the problem. - See more at: http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/recall-of-dog-food.html#sthash.jjFoEG4d.dpuf
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peteducation.com/
Meat: Meat is the clean flesh of slaughtered animals (chicken, cattle, lamb, turkey, etc.). The flesh can include striated skeletal muscle, tongue, diaphragm, heart, esophagus, overlying fat and the skin, sinew, nerves and blood vessels normally found with that flesh.
Meat By-products: Meat by-products are clean parts of slaughtered animals, not including meat. These include lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, some fatty tissue, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth, or hooves.
Poultry By-products: Poultry by-products are clean parts of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and internal organs (like heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and intestines). It does not contain feathers.
Fish Meal: Fish meal is the clean ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish or fish cuttings, with or without the oil extracted.
Ground Corn: Ground corn is the entire corn kernel ground or chopped.
Corn Gluten Meal: Corn gluten meal is the by-product after the manufacture of corn syrup or starch, and is the dried residue after the removal of the bran, germ, and starch.
Brewers Rice: Brewers rice is the small fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from larger kernels of milled rice.
Brown Rice: Brown rice is the unpolished rice left over after the kernels have been removed.
Soybean Meal: Soybean meal is a by-product of the production of soybean oil.
BHA: BHA is butylated hydroxyanisole, a fat preservative.
Ethoxyquin: Ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative that is used to prevent spoilage in dog food.
Tocopherols: Tocopherols (e.g., vitamin E) are naturally occurring compounds used as natural preservatives.
I currently feed Innova's EVO - Red Meat, Small Bites. Issa is thriving magnificiently on the food, and I am grateful for it. However, to anyone feeding Innova, Innova's EVO, California Natural, or any other pet food manufactured by Natura Manufacturing... Please be aware that Natura sold their plants and formulas to Proctor & Gamble, who produces very low quality dog food. Save your dog food labels! Compare each new bag's ingredients to the old bag. If you notice a change in ingredients, or in content, switch to another premium food. Wellness CORE, Before Grain, Orijen, Arcana, and other grain-free, meat based foods exist. Don't let your dog suffer because Natura sold out! Be vigilant about your dog's food, and your dog will reward you with many years of healthy companionship
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- Written by Donna
