F E A T U R E T O P I C: N U T R I T I O N
Dog food ingredients By Anjie Coates, MSN Pets staff Copyright 1999, Anjie Coates. Used with permission. Information links in Italics When you buy food for yourself and your family, you will read the label to be sure that you know what it is you'll be serving for supper. You must do the same when shopping for your pets. Every pet food label must have a guaranteed analysis ingredient panel, feeding instructions, Association of American Feed Control Officials statement of nutritional adequacy (AAFCO), manufacturing code, expiration or "best used by" information, net weight, and customer service information/satisfaction number. Ingredients in pet food are listed in order of weight prior to processing. The one weighing the most is listed first. The most common ingredients in name brand dry dog foods are as follows: byproduct meal, ground corn, a meat or meat meal, brewer's rice, and meat and bone meal. Meat has 10 percent protein by weight and is mostly water. Meal has the water and fat removed and has 70 percent protein. Meal costs five times as much as meat. Byproducts Byproducts: We've all heard the term, but what exactly does that mean? Poultry, meat or beef byproducts are animal parts not fit for human consumption, such as beaks, feet, bones, feathers, tails, ears, hooves, lips or snouts. Byproducts are difficult to digest and have little nutritional value. Whole grain vs. ground grain Whole grains contain the outer covering of the seed or bran. Most of the nutrients in the seed are under the bran layer, and are destroyed when the grain is ground or cracked, or the bran is removed. Whole grain use increases the nutritional value. Meat and bone meal Law does not require disclosure of where meal comes from. We know beef meal comes from cattle; however, non-specific meal can come from any source. In 1990, 5.2 million dogs and cats were added to commercial pet food in the form of meat and bone meal. Chemicals The most common chemicals found in pet foods are BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, sodium triphosphate, zinc sulphate, zinc oxide, colors and flavoring agents. Zinc oxide is an infusible white solid used especially as a pigment in compounding rubber and in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations. Zinc sulphate is used in making white paint pigment in printing and dyeing. It is also used in sprays and fertilizers. Sodium tripoly phosphate is a major component of many detergents and a major contributor to water pollution. BHA and BHT have been linked to liver and kidney problems, birth defects, allergic reactions, baldness and brain defects. Ethoxyquin is covered in detail in another article. Tallow Tallow is a white, nearly tasteless solid fat of cattle and sheep. It is mainly used in soap, margarine, candles and lubricants. Keep in mind that all ingredients listed have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Pets who eat the same chemicals every day could experience a chemical buildup in their systems. Pets and humans do not differ greatly genetically, and like us, they cannot metabolize chemicals. The buildup can cause health problems. Natural pet foods Natural pet foods are free of chemical preservatives, coloring and flavoring agents. Live enzymes, whole grains, anti-oxidants, kelp, probiotics (beneficial bacteria found in healthy digestive tracts) and chelated minerals. Tomato pomace is a great source of fiber and is higher in protein than beet pulp. This is an overview of what you need to be looking for when you shop for your pets. Read those labels carefully, because your pets can't do it themselves. |