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How does your Dog Food Brand compare?
Are you concerned about the dry food your dog is eating? Looking for detailed information about certain food ingredients? Confused about inconsistent information about dogfood from pet food manufacturers? Need help comparing dog food brands and finding a better one?
Then you are exactly where I was when I first heard about the disgusting materials some pet food manufacturers put into their products. I picked up a bag of Science Diet and consciously looked at the ingredient list for the first time. Even without any previous knowledge I could see that it did not include any real meat and was preserved with the same chemicals I avoid in human food products. I never bought another bag of Science Diet and started researching and comparing products. One of the things I learned was that any commercial sources are best avoided if you want hard facts, not biased "infomercial" style sales pitches trying to sell you one product or another. Hopefully you will find this site helpful, make up your own mind about different food brands and their quality, choose a better food and who knows - maybe even save some money.
Questions? Feel free to send me an email!
Admin | July 2, 2010 5:06 pm
This is an update to a prior news post:
http://forums.dogfoodproject.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=33199
From the FDA website:
United Pet Group Voluntarily Expands Recall of Nutritional Supplements For Dogs to Include Additional Tablet and Powdered-Form Products for Dogs and Cats Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
The following brands and items are affected, please see the above link for details on batches, sizes and expiration dates.
DDS Dental Breath Mints Breath Control
DDS Dental Breath Tabs Breath Control
Doctors Foster and Smith Brewers Yeast Mega-Tabs with Garlic and Essential Fatty Acids
Doctors Foster and Smith Brewers Yeast Tablets for Dogs and Cats
Doctors Foster and Smith Cran Health Support Normal Urinary Tract Health
Doctors Foster and Smith Dis-Taste Small Dog Tablets
Doctors Foster and Smith Ear Powder
Doctors Foster and Smith Extra Strength Dis-Taste Tablets
Doctors Foster and Smith Fresh Breath Tablets for Dogs
Excel 3 in 1 Ear Powder Ear Care
Excel Adult Multi Vitamin
Excel Adult Multivitamin
Excel Advantage Adult Multi Vitamin
Excel Advantage Glucosamine Advanced Strength
Excel Advantage Glucosamine Plus
Excel Advantage Puppy Multi Vitamin
Excel Advantage Senior Multi Vitamin
Excel Advantage Skin and Coat Essentials
Excel Brewers Yeast with Garlic Skin and Coat Care
Excel Calcium Daily Supplement
Excel Calm-Quil Calming Tablets Behavior Aid
Excel Deter Coprophagia Treatment Behavioral Aid
Excel Flare-Away Joint Tabs
Excel Gas Preventative Digestive Aid Digestive Care
Excel Glucosamine Joint Care
Excel Glucosamine with MSM Joint Care
Excel Joint Ensure Advanced Care
Excel Joint Ensure Moderate Care
Excel Lutein Vision Maintenance Eye Care
Excel Pupply Multi Vitamin
Excel Senior Multi Vitamin
Excel Small Breed Multi Vitamin
Nature's Miracle Pet Mess Easy Clean-up
PR Excel Brewers Yeast with Garlic Skin and Coat
Petco Breath Tabs for Dogs Liver Flavor
Petco Ear Powder For Dogs
Pro-Pet Anti-Stress Calming Tabs
Pro-Pet Breath Mints
Pro-Pet Breath Tabs
Pro-Pet Brewers Yeast Daily Supplement
Pro-Pet Daily Vitamin Supplement Powder
Pro-Pet Gas Relief Digestive Aid
Pro-Pet Glucosamine Advanced Joint Care
Pro-Pet Glucosamine Advanced Joint Powder
Pro-Pet Glucosamine Joint Care
Pro-Pet Glucosamine Plus Joint Care
Pro-Pet Puppy and Small Breed Daily Vitamin Supplement
Pro-Pet Senior Daily Vitamin Supplement
Pro-Pet Stool-Eating Preventative (Corprophagia Treatment)
Admin | June 30, 2010 2:43 pm
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm217086.htm
Dear Mr. Merrick:
On December 2, 2009, FDA collected a sample of Merrick Beef Filet Squares manufactured by your Plainview, Texas facility and repackaged by your Hereford, Texas facility. Analysis of this dog chew revealed the product to be contaminated with Salmonella meleagridis. Representatives of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted inspections of your pet treat manufacturing facility located at 901 County Rd Y, Plainview, Texas 79073, on December 29-31, 2009, and your pet treat packaging facility located at 1977 E US Highway 60, Hereford, Texas 79045 on December 28-29,2009 and on January 13-14, 2010. These inspections confirmed that you offered pet treats for sale as food that were adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(1) and 402(a)(4) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(4). You can find the Act and its associated regulations on the Internet through links on the FDA web page at www.fda.qov.
Pet treats bearing or containing Salmonella spp., including Salmonella meleagridis, a known animal and human pathogen posing an acute danger to human and or animal health, are considered adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(1). A food, including food for animals, is adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(4), if it has been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth or may have been rendered injurious to health. Our inspections revealed that the manufacturing processes used by your firm to manufacture pet treats are not controlled and that contamination of these products may occur through inadequate treatment or through recontamination of the treated products due to improper storage or handling after processing.
Specifically, your firm could not provide evidence that your manufacturing processes eliminate pathogens such as Salmonella during processing because your firm does not consistently monitor critical factors in the process such as time and temperature; nor could you provide evidence demonstrating that recontamination was not likely to occur post-processing. Further, your firm could not provide evidence supporting the adequacy of your in-house sampling and testing program, for example, explaining the location and number of samples collected for each lot of finished product.
We recognize that your firm initiated a voluntary recall of Merrick Beef Filet Squares by letter to your customers dated January 11, 2010. The recall was initiated following FDA sampling and your firm's internal sampling, both of which revealed the presence of Salmonella. However, your recall strategy may be determined to be ineffective to the consumer level for the following reasons:
• Your firm delayed your public communication to alert consumers who may have the recalled product in their possession until after FDA issued an FDA Health Alert on January 14, 2010.
• Your recall communications to distributors, retailers, and consumers only included case lot coding 9323, which was different from the lot coding on some of the individual bags. Due to a labeling error, some of the affected bags were coded with the lot code 9333.
• Your recall letter did not identify the hazard involved. Your letter to wholesale and retail consignees indicated the product was recalled because it "may not have been processed properly." Recalls can be less effective if the recall communication does not concisely explain the reason for recall and the hazard involved.
FDA acknowledges the written responses we have received following our inspections. Separate letters, both dated January 18, 2010, were received addressing the observations made during the inspections we conducted at your locations in Plainview and Hereford, Texas. Although your letters indicate that your firm has taken steps to address our observations, they did not contain enough detail for us to evaluate. For example, your response letters did not include a copy of your validation protocol. We recommend that your validation study, in addition to establishing a specific profile for each dryer, also account for process and product variation including fat content, initial product temperature, and product size and location. We also recommend validation of your rework process. The corrections your firm has implemented at both sites will be evaluated and verified during our next inspection. We also acknowledge your letter of January 29, 2010, discussing your views on the applicability of the Reportable Food Registry to this situation.
You should respond in writing within 15 working days from your receipt of this letter. Your response should outline the specific steps you are taking to correct these violations. You should include in your response, documentation and useful information that would assist us in evaluating your corrections. If you cannot complete all corrections before you respond, you should explain the reason for your delay and state when you will correct any remaining violations.
Admin | June 23, 2010 1:22 pm
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm216903.htm
United Pet Group Voluntarily Recalls Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –- June 22, 2010 – United Pet Group, Cincinnati, Ohio is voluntarily recalling all unexpired lots of its PRO-PET ADULT DAILY VITAMIN Supplement tablets for Dogs due to possible Salmonella contamination. The Food and Drug Administration is aware of this recall.
The product was sold nationally at various retailers. The product comes in 100-count white plastic bottles with a light blue label, and UPC code 26851-01800. These products are being removed from retail stores and consumers should immediately stop feeding these supplements to their pets. The affected products are those with expiration dates on or before "06/13". The expiration date can be found imprinted vertically on the right side of the product label.
Laboratory testing has revealed that one Lot of this vitamin product was contaminated with Salmonella. The company is recalling all unexpired Lots of the product out of an abundance of caution.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
People who handle dry pet food and/or treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Consumers who have purchased the product are urged to contact United Pet Group or the place of purchase for further direction. Consumers may contact United Pet Group at 1-800-645-5154 ext. 3, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST.
Admin | June 18, 2010 3:00 pm
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/...k-96675044.html
PACOIMA, Calif., June 18 /PRNewswire/
Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., of Pacoima, CA, announces a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, in 5-lb. and 28-lb. bags because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a product sample with a "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, had a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This product was originally manufactured on December 17, 2009, and is the only Natural Balance product being recalled.
Salmonella can affect animals and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. This product was manufactured on December 17, 2009.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Recalled products were only distributed in pet specialty stores in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The only product affected by the recall is the Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, product information as follows:
Product: Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Formula
Bag Size: 5 lb, Bag UPC Code: 7-23633-99000-4, Bale UPC Code: 7-23633-99003-5, Best By Dates: June 17, 2011
Bag Size: 28 lb, Bag UPC Code: 7-23633-99002-8, Bale UPC Code: 7-23633-99003-5, Best By Dates: June 17, 2011
Consumers who have purchased Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog formula with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. A separate letter and instructions will be forwarded to all relevant Natural Balance customers. For additional information, please contact Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at (800) 829-4493 (8am – 5pm, PDT) or by visiting www.naturalbalanceinc.com.
SOURCE Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc
Admin | June 16, 2010 2:58 pm
Here's an article that supports my line of thinking in regards to how things are going to develop once Procter & Gamble takes over Natura Pet Products:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/press/mass-channels,1347562.html
[...]David Lummis, senior pet market analyst for Packaged Facts and author of the all-new market study Natural, Organic and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S., 3rd Edition, believes the big news may be yet to break. "Based on Procter & Gamble's core distribution strengths and past history with Iams, I suspect that 2010 will see a key Natura brand cross over into mass channels, which would be a very big deal."
and
"What these figures tell me is that the time is ripe for a 'true' natural brand to enter the mass channel," Lummis says. "And now that Natura is, pending regulatory approval, under Procter & Gamble's wing, P&G is the perfect company to make that happen. If P&G does take a Natura brand mass, it would broaden the consumer base for natural pet food virtually overnight. It could also spur Mars to follow a similar path with its Nutro brand, and Nestle Purina to consider acquiring a 'true' natural band of its own."
Take that as you will, I would rather not see a company like Natura turning any of their their products out to the mass market, which will invariably mean sacrificing ingredient quality to satisfy demand, since the company wants to push for increased sales.
The supply of top quality ingredients is limited, so ultimately there are only two possibilities: regulate sales through product pricing (meaning that foods with a higher price tag simply do not sell as much volume as cheaper brands), or increase availability by downgrading ingredients.
I know what P & G has done in the past. It's worked for them once after acquiring Iams/Eukanuba, it's worked for other corporate giants after buying up smaller independents.
Admin | June 9, 2010 5:04 pm
For some time now rumors have been floating around the internet, along the lines of the FDA's National Organic Program ending the certification of organic pet food. I'm very happy to be able to share the following relevant information, courtesy of Castor & Pollux Pet Works:
Issue - The organic certification of pet food dates back to 2002 when organic certifying agencies and the pet food industry were informed by the National Organic Program (NOP) that pet food could be certified organic. ORGANIX was introduced in 2003 with full organic certification and NOP compliance. However, without notice, in January 2010, the NOP advised certain organic certifying agencies that the vitamins and minerals used to produce complete and balanced pet foods (as required by the Association of American Feed Control Officials -AAFCO) were not to be allowed in NOP certified organic pet food. Even though these vitamins and minerals are on the FDANOP's allowable ingredients list, the NOP is now saying that because this list refers to human food fortification, not pet food, it can no longer allow the organic certification of complete and balanced pet food. This is after the NOP advised pet food manufacturers and organic certifying agencies in 2007 that pet food must be certified to the standards of human food, not animal feed.
Action being Taken - The Pet Food Institute, on behalf of both members and non-members, has organized an Organic Pet Food Task Force being chaired by Brian Connolly, co-founder of Castor & Pollux Pet Works, to petition the NOP to approve the inclusion of these essential ingredients to allow dog and cat owners to continue feeding certified organic pet food to their four-legged family members. Given the importance of this issue to pet parents and to organic pet food producers, ingredient suppliers, and organic certifying agencies, the Task Force has taken aggressive action in Washington, DC to garner support and ensure all aspects of this topic are understood to ensure organic pet foods remain on the shelf.
Brian was also involved in the Pet Food Task Force formed in 2005 to develop recommendations to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on the labeling of organic pet food as this was never addressed in the NOP. Although ORGANIX has always adhered to the organic labeling regulations pertaining to human organic foods, not all pet foods/treats do. This Task Force included representatives from AAFCO, the FDA, the NOSB, and pet food manufacturers. Recommendations were submitted in the Fall of 2006 and were approved by the NOSB in late 2008 but have yet to be adopted in the NOP.
The above has been added to the page on organic dog food and I will post updates as I receive new information.
Due to concerns about food recalls, discount on basic consultations (canned and dry food)!
Available options include recipes for home prepared diets, cooked and raw, individually designed and balanced for your dog, according to the newest nutritional guidelines of the National Research Council (2006).
Check out BetterDogCare.com and contact me today for a consultation.
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