With all the concern over contaminants found in pet food and weekly recalls, it is understandable that a growing number of people have had it with leading suppliers of pet food.
When you take into consideration that Americans spent $20.64 billion in 2012 on pet food, they should have the power to demand products that don’t harm their pets.
“If manufacturers aren’t really worried about what we’re eating, why would they be concerned with what dogs and cats are eating?” asked Sarah Vradenburg, who has been feeding her two miniature schnauzers, Mishka and Zoe, a raw diet for five years.
Need proof? Watch the 2004 expose on the fast-food industry, Supersize Me, in which Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health by eating only McDonald’s food for one month.
So, in a world where the first words a child often learns is “French fries,” who is watching out for our pets?
Vradenburg, an Akron resident and retired Beacon Journal editorial writer, is among the growing legions of people who lost faith in commercially produced kibble. When she became concerned with her dogs’ unhealthy weight gain, she turned to BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) brand of California. At the age of 10, the litter mates are healthy, energetic and top the scales at a slender 15 pounds — the perfect weight for their breed. Their coats are shiny, their breath is fresh and their penchant for developing kidney stones is a thing of the past.
Vradenburg doesn’t need to be concerned with recent pet food recalls, such as the March voluntary recall of Natura Pet Products that expanded to include the majority of its dry food products due to possible salmonella contamination.
The brand was purchased by Proctor & Gamble in 2010. Years ago, the company bought Iams and Eukanuba during a time when quality pet food was defined by high prices and certain brand names.
The reality is we can’t count on those things alone to protect our pets any longer.
The Natura recall affected me personally, and frankly, it still makes me angry.
We fed one of our dogs Evo, considered a quality, high-end food for several years. We paid premium prices at a specialty store to make sure this wouldn’t happen, yet it was one of the recalled brands.
It was the 2007 melamine scare in pet food from China that energized Americans to find out what was going into their pet’s food.
Unfortunately, just last year, a recall of chicken jerky treats coming from China shows that we have forgotten the lesson.
Pet food oversight is done by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, a voluntary nonprofit organization of local, state and federal agencies charged by law to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feed and drug remedies. It is the only official body that governs pet food.
There is no requirement that pet foods have pre-market approval by the FDA. However, the FDA does require that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.
Personally, I’m not willing to have one of my pets get sick before a recall is voluntarily issued by a company.
As consumers, what are our options to ensure the food we give our pets is not toxic, irradiated, grown with dangerous pesticides or come from reputable growers?
Long gone are the days when we can open a bag of kibble, pour it into bowls and forget about it. Convenience is a thing of the past for owners who truly care that their animals live a long and healthy life.
Responsible owners need to check out where and how their pet food is manufactured and make up their own minds.
When I consider a new pet food, I email the company and ask a few questions before I buy their brands: Do you have a pet nutritionist on staff? Are all the ingredients grown by reputable farmers in this country? Is any part of your manufacturing process done outside the United States?
These questions are concerning to many pet food manufacturers. It’s up to you to find them.
Commercial kibble, dehydrated whole foods, frozen, home cooked or raw, there are lots of ways to feed your pets.
Next week, we look at how millions of people have gone to raw food and why it has some veterinarians concerned.
If you are feeding a diet of raw food, commonly called the BARF method (for bones and raw food), let me know.
Other animals in the news:
Paws-4-A-Cause Adopt-a-thon and Family Fun Day — 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation Polo Field in Moreland Hills, sponsored by the Public Animal Welfare Society of Ohio. Free admission and parking. More than 20 animal rescue groups will participate. Dogs with yellow bandanas will be looking for forever homes. Contests, raffles and canine demonstrations. There also will be pet-related and craft vendor booths and food from six local vendors. For more information, visit www.pawsohio.org/p4ac.
Chefs Who Care — The Humane Society of Greater Akron and Blue Canyon Restaurant are teaming up to present an after work cocktail hour event from 5-9 p.m. June 27 at Blue Canyon Restaurant, 8960 Wilcox Drive, Twinsburg. Heavy appetizers, cash bar, music and a live auction are included in the $35 ticket price. Tickets can be purchased at www.summithumane.org or by calling 330-487-0333, ext. 232.
Kathy Antoniotti writes about pets for the Akron Beacon Journal. She is unable to help locate, place or provide medical attention for an individual animal. If you have an idea or question about pets, write her at the Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640; call 330-996-3565; or send an email to kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.