Nutrish pet food invests in sustainable forestry

In celebration of Earth Day, pet food brand Rachel Ray Nutrish is asking consumers to tell them how they celebrate Earth Day.
The pet food company's Earth Day campaign asks consumers to share their Earth Day celebration on the Nutrish Facebook page.
In 2012, Nutrish says it began adding up everything they do that releases carbon into the atmosphere, then invested in sustainable forestry programs that specialize in removing carbon. "So, in its simplest form, when you buy a bag of Nutrish, someone plants a tree," the company says. 

RECALL: Diamond Pet Foods expands recall of Chicken Soup dry dog food

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded a voluntary recall of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food to include one production run and four production codes, after one bag of the dog food tested positive for Salmonella. 


The recall includes Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food in 35-pound bags with production codes of: CLF0102B31XCW, with "Best by" date of Jan. 27, 2013; CLF0102B31XCW, with "Best by" date of Jan. 28, 2013; and CLF0102B32XWR, with "Best by" date of Jan. 28, 2013. The recall also includes 6-pound bags of the same Chicken Soup dry dog food, with production code CLF0102B3XALW and "Best by" date of Jan. 28, 2013. 


The recalled product was distributed in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, USA, but product may have been distributed through other petfood channels to other states. 


Consumers who purchased the Diamond Pet Food's recalled dry dog food should throw the product away immediately. Signs of Salmonella in pets include decreased appetite, fever, abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Consumers who have questions should contact the company at +1.800.442.0402.

Nestle Purina, Walmart sued by pet owner over chicken jerky dog treats

Nestle Purina Petcare Co. is being sued by a man from Chicago, Illinois, USA, who claims his dog died from eating the petfood manufacturer's Waggin’ Train dog treats. 
According to a complaint filed in a Chicago federal court, Dennis Adkins says his 9-year-old Pomeranian became sick and died of kidney failure as a result of eating Waggin' Train's "Yam Good" chicken-wrapped treats. 
“Waggin’ Train has spent millions of dollars in promoting trust and confidence among consumers in its pet food products,” Adkins says in the complaint. “The product was not wholesome, was not nutritious and was unhealthy.” 
Adkins' complaint says that he purchased the treats on March 11 and fed one per day, in pieces, for three days, beginning March 13. He says he made no other changes to the dog's diet, but that the dog became ill on March 15 and died of kidney failure on March 26. Adkins also says in the complaint that his other 9-year-old Pomeranian did not consume the treats and did not become ill. 
According to an emailed statement from Nestle Purina, the company feels the Waggin' Train treats are "safe to feed as directed."
"We believe the claims made in the suit to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend ourselves,” Nestle says.
Additionally, Adkins is suing Walmart, where he bought the treats, for compensatory and punitive damages, alleging the companies breached warranties that guaranteed the treats were suitable for consumption.  
“At Walmart, we’re committed to providing our customers and their pets with safe and affordable food,” says Greg Rossiter, a Walmart spokesman. Rossiter says that all of the company’s petfood suppliers are required to comply with all applicable government safety regulations, and says the company is aware of the chicken jerky product concerns and is in contact with the Food and Drug Administration. 
Adkins is also asking the court to recognize a class of plaintiffs made up of consumers who bought Nestle or Waggin’ Train- brand dog treats containing chicken imported from China within the past four years and a sub-class of those who made the purchases from Walmart.
“Thousands of persons purchased the dog treats at issue, and hundreds of dogs died as a result,” says Adkins.

Solid Gold donates most dog food ever to SPCA of Connecticut, USA

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets made the largest donation of pet food ever in Connecticut, USA, the company said, donating 43,375 pounds of Sun Dancer dry dog food to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Connecticut animal shelter.
In total, Solid Gold donated US$1 million worth of dog food to 15 animal rescue organizations across the country. 
“We are so pleased with this incredible donation,” said Barb Groel, interim director of The SPCA of Connecticut. “On behalf of all the animals that we care for, we thank our friends at Solid Gold. This donation of 43,365 pounds, which filled a 52 foot tractor trailer, will feed our dogs healthy and nutritional food for a full year.”

FDA releases high-risk food facility criteria under FSMA

The Food and Drug Administration recently released its criteria for classifying high-risk food facilities that will require more frequent inspections under the Food Safety Modernization Act. 
The administration's two main classifying criteria are known safety risks of foods, such as related Class 1 recalls and illness outbreaks, and the facility's compliance history. Under the Food Safety Modernization Act, high-risk facilities must be inspected once in the first five years after enactment of the Food Safety Modernization Act, then once every three years after the initial inspection. Not-high-risk facilities must be inspected at least once in the first seven years after enactment of the Food Safety Modernization Act, then once every five years after the initial inspection. 
Of the 82,000 domestic facilities listed in the Food and Drug Administration's inventory, 22,325 are considered to be high-risk facilities. To determine if a facility is classfied as "high-risk," the administration uses a decision-making process based on the risk factors identified in section 421(a)(1) of the FD&C Act, including:


• Known safety risks of the food manufactured; 
• Compliance history of a facility; 
• Facility's hazard analysis and risk-based preventative controls; 
• Facility's priority under section 801(h)(1) of the FD&C Act;
• Certifications for imported food;
• Any other criteria deemed necessary

'Petfood Industry' launches Kindle Fire app

A new app for the Kindle Fire provides mobile access to Petfood Industry issues, articles, news and products.

A new app provides mobile access to Petfood Industry issues, articles, news and products for users of the Kindle Fire, joining apps for iPhones, iPads and Android smartphones.
Like the existing apps, the new Kindle Fire app allows users to explore Petfood Industry content via a library of monthly issues, and within each issue, in a navigator mode to peruse individual articles. The app also includes feeds for the latest news and products from www.petfoodindustry.com and allows users to save and share articles.
The Kindle Fire app is available in the Amazon Appstore. Users of Apple devices can find the Petfood Industry app in iTunes, while Android smartphone owners can find it in Google Play. To access the magazine on another mobile device, bookmark www.petfoodindustry-digital.com on your mobile web browser.

Merrick acquires natural, organic pet food company Castor & Pollux

Merrick Pet Care Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Castor & Pollux Natural PetWorks, a privately held natural and organic pet food company based in Oregon, USA.
Although specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, Merrick Pet Care says the acquisition of Castor & Pollux further advances its key growth strategies of expanding the company’s brands in the super-premium petfood segment and allows for greater utilization of its manufacturing facilities located in Hereford, Texas, USA.
“This acquisition is about building a new company that is even stronger than the sum of its parts,” said Greg Shearson, CEO for Merrick Pet Care. “Both Merrick and Castor & Pollux were built by passionate founders determined to provide optimal nutrition for pets. That remains our commitment today. Our Merrick pet food recipes are developed and made every day in our own facilities, enabling us to deliver superior nutritional quality and safety.
“Even in this historically difficult economic environment, we see pet parents seeking higher quality and ingredient certainty in the food choices they are making for themselves and their pets,” said Shearson. “And together, we can better meet the growing demand for the highest quality petfood.”
Merrick plans to consolidate Castor & Pollux's operations at Merrick’s Texas, USA, facilities.
"The addition of the outstanding Castor & Pollux brands gives us a solid footing within the natural and organic space. Coupled with some exciting new plans we have to evolve the Merrick brands in the next few months, we are well positioned for growth of our entire Texas-based operation,” Merrick Pet Care Inc. founder, Garth Merrick, said.

Illinois pet food ingredient manufacturer fined by OSHA

Pet food ingredient manufacturer All-Feed Processing & Packaging Inc. was found in civil contempt of court for failing to allow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to inspect its Galva, Illinois, USA, facility from May 4-July 5, 2011. 
The manufacturer was fined US$31,000 for contempt and US$10,964.95 in attorney's fees by Senior District Judge Joe Billy McDade of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois for failing to allow inspections at its petfood packaging and research facility. McDade also ruled that the company's actions showed clear evidence that the company knowingly violated warrant requirements issued by the court in May 2011. 
"All-Feed Processing & Packaging's continuous failure to allow proper OSHA inspections, along with its history of severe violations, led OSHA to seek court intervention to ensure its workers are safe," said Greg Baxter, OSHA's acting regional administrator in Chicago, Illinois, USA. "We are pleased that the courts have put the workers' welfare first and upheld federal standards requiring employers to allow OSHA access to full-shift inspections to ensure work environments are healthful and safe."
In November 2011, OSHA cited All-Feed for 23 safety and health violations at the facility. In total, All-Feed's fines were US$758,450, which the company contested.

Gourmet tea company creates herbal tea blend for dogs

California Tea House, a family-owned, gourmet tea company, created what it says is the first-ever herbal tea blend for dogs. 



Machu's Blend is an herbal tea blend for dogs.
Machu's Blend Tea for Dogs is named after the family's Great Dane and company mascot, Machu Picchu. The all-natural blend of herbs is formulated to promote a balanced immune system, healthy skin and coat, lower stress and aid in the digestion of dry dog food. In addition, the company says Machu's Blend is good for the prevention of bloat, seizures and motion sickness caused by car rides. 

Precision Color Graphics certified for pet food pouch compostability

Precision Color Graphics Ltd., a petfood packaging company, earned Biodegradable Products Institute certification for its Ecoterah petfood pouches and bags. 

The Ecoterah multi-layer pouches and bags for petfood can contain several paper layers, a water-based adhesive and a biopolymer sealant. The inner film is made with an earth-friendly alternative to petrochemical-based films, and the carbon-neutral biopolymer is made with 100 percent annually renewable plant resources, according to the company. 

The certification assures that the Ecoterah packaging products meet American Society for Testing and Materials D6868 and D6400 compostability standards. The Biodegradable Products Institute promotes the use and recycling of biodegradable polymeric materials via composting, and certification is awarded after third-party laboratory testing. 

International Grains Program launches animal feed industry blog

The International Grains Program at Kansas State University launched a new blog with animal feed industry information as well as posts specific to the program's focus of feed manufacturing and grain management, flour milling and grain processing, and grain marketing and risk management. 

“We are excited about this opportunity to engage with our audience in a different capacity,” said Mark Fowler, IGP associate director. “We truly hope that people will take the time to visit the site and let us know what they think about it and how it can serve them better.”

This blog will be authored by several individuals from the International Grains Program.

“Currently, IGP’s curriculum experts, Jay O’Neil, Carlos Campabadal and I, will be producing a majority of the content. In time, we hope to also hear from other K-State faculty and industry professionals,” Fowler said.

Weatherchem progresses on pet food packaging sustainability initiatives

Petfood packaging company Weatherchem announced it is making significant progress toward its goal of becoming "landfill-free."
During 2012, the company says its efforts will focus on reducing the weight of its recyclable packaging closures to save material usage and shipping and fuel costs. One of Weatherchem's closures will use 20 percent less plastic, with production cycle times cut by 25 percent to save electricity.
In addition, the company previously installed new electric presses that consumed 30 percent less energy and 800,000 fewer gallons of water annually than the old ones. A new "chiller" to cool interior spaces was also installed to cool interior spaces using 40 percent to 45 percent less energy. The company also began recycling pallets, shrink wrap and corrugated paper to reduce landfill content, which led to creation of 24 tons fewer in 2011 compared to 2007, despite doubling business volume during that time. 

Natura launches new pet food ingredient tracking website

Natura Pet Products launched a new website, www.SeeBeyondTheBag.com, that lets customers see how the manufacturer creates new pet food formulas and where the pet food ingredients are sourced. 



Natura's site lets consumers track ingredients and their source on an interactive map.
Natura’s new website shares the regions where Natura’s ingredients are sourced on an interactive map and presents a narrated video tour of the company’s plant in Fremont, Nebraska, USA, with profiles of employees working in manufacturing and product development at the plant. The site also features ingredient infographics that highlight benefits and fun facts, a timeline of brand milestones, and information on the company's safety and quality checks performed at Natura's Fremont Innovation Center.  

Iams pet food launches Facebook contest for senior pets

Iams pet food brand is launching a contest on its Facebook page that lets dog and cat owners whose pets are 11 years old or older enter to win a year's supply of pet food to celebrate the Iams new Senior Plus formula and educate pet owners about the unique nutritional needs of senior pets. 
Each week, the "Play Young, Stay Young" contest will select a winning dog and cat, based on a photo and brief essay submitted by the owner. The contest, which runs through June 3, will award a total of 16 pets (eight dogs and eight cats) with a year's supply of Iams Senior Plus and will feature the pets on its Facebok page. 
“On the heels of introducing our new Senior Plus formula, we launched the ‘Play Young, Stay Young’ contest to offer pet parents a fun and unique opportunity to celebrate their 11 and older four-legged family members with the chance to win free food for a year,” said Laura Lewis, external relations manager, Iams. “We’re all looking forward to reading the many entries that bring to life how cats and dogs can really benefit from a proper diet and active lifestyle.” 

PetSmart Charities launches Facebook pet adoption profile application

PetSmart Charities and Adopt-a-Pet.com created a new Facebook profile application to drive public awareness and increase adoptions of the nearly 8 million homeless pets in the US. 
The Share a Pic, Save a Pet application alerts friends, family and followers about adoptable pets in their community and showcases their photos. Facebook users can input their zip code and select up to 10 pets to feature on their profile by breed, size, color and gender, with links to the shelters where the pets are available for adoption.
"Share a Pic, Save a Pet is an innovative way to use social media to promote pet adoption locally," said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities Inc. "Adoption saves lives, and we believe this application will spark pet lovers to spread the word about the thousands of wonderful adoptable pets looking for forever homes – at the click of a button."

Butcher's Pet Care opens new petfood manufacturing plant in UK

Butcher’s Pet Care opened a new £38 million (US$60.2 million) pet food manufacturing plant in Crick, Northamptonshire, UK.
The 260,000-square-foot facility increases the pet food company's capacity by nearly 50 percent or 5 million cans extra per week. Through its increased capacity, the company hopes to strengthen its position in the UK as well as in export markets. 
“For the last 25 years, local people have helped us grow the business to where it is today. Their support will be vital to us achieving our ambitious growth in the next 25 years,” said chairman, Graham Baker. 

Older adults benefit from pet ownership, research shows

Aging adults can benefit from relationships with pets, according to new research from the University of Missouri. Rebecca Johnson, an associate professor in the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the school's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, says that having a pet can lower the stress hormone cortisol while increasing oxytocin, prolactin and norepinephrine, which are hormones related to joy, nurturing and relaxation. 
“Research suggests older adults live longer, healthier, happier lives when they interact with pets on a regular basis,” Johnson says. “Pets provide companionship and unconditional love that improves the overall health of aging individuals. Caring for animals gives older adults responsibility and more reasons to get up in the mornings.”
Johnson says that although the health benefits of pet ownership are widely acknowledged, many retirement communities and elder-care facilities do not allow residents to have pets. The TigerPlace Pet Initiative offers a successful model other elder-care facilities should follow, she says.
“Health care providers are quick to give walkers and canes to aging individuals to help with their physical needs, but they make it difficult for elderly individuals to keep their pets, key facilitators of emotional health,” Johnson says. “TigerPlace recognizes the benefits of pet ownership and makes it easier for residents to own pets by having pet-friendly facilities and in-house services available to help residents care for pets.”
TigerPlace promotes pet ownership with features such as outdoor walking paths, student visits from the school's veterinary medicine and nursing programs three times per week to walk pets and clean litter boxes, monthly preventative-care visits to pets from a retired veterinary medicine faculty member, and an on-site exam room for specialized veterinary care. 

'Hallmark Channel's Pet Project' launched to promote dog, cat adoption

Crown Media Family Networks' Hallmark Channel is partnering with PetSmart Charities and the American Humane Association in the recently launched "Hallmark Channel’s Pet Project" campaign. "Hallmark Channel’s Pet Project" campaign is designed to celebrate the joy pets bring to people's lives, as well as to promote awareness of the epidemic of pet homelessness and encourage pet adoption. 
The campaign will include public service announcements, programming elements, social media engagement, and a website featuring videos, photos, pet-care tips, pet-finder resources and more. It will also include pet-themed programming consisting of pet segments on Hallmark's original daytime lifestyle shows, original movies like Puppy Love, and TV specials like the 2nd annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.
“Pets bring so much joy and enrichment to our lives and ‘Hallmark Channel’s Pet Project’ is designed to honor this incredible human-animal bond,” said Bill Abbott, president and CEO, Crown Media Family Networks. “We also hope the campaign will educate and mobilize our audience around the issue of pet homelessness and help find homes for some of the thousands of wonderful animals waiting to bring their gifts and unconditional love to a family of their own.” 

Woman launches Change.org campaign against China chicken jerky dog treats

An Ohio, USA, woman launched a petition campaign on Change.org calling for the recall of Nestle Purina's Waggin' Train dog treats, claiming her Fox Terrier died after consuming the chicken jerky treats made in China. 
Terry Safranek's campaign on Change.org was launched after a Food and Drug Administration representative picked up a sample of the treats from her house for its ongoing investigation. So far, more than 600 cases of sickness and death in dogs linked to the chicken jerky treats have been reported to the administration. 
Safranek said: “Waggin' Train Wholesome Chicken Jerky treats were the last thing Sampson ate before he fell ill. I've since learned we're part of a known epidemic of hundreds of cases of illness and death attributed to these and other chicken jerky treats made in China. Nestle Purina needs to protect other families from what I went through by taking these treats off the shelves until they're proven safe.
“Nestle Purina has refused all accountability, instead placing blame on people like me who have lost their companions. If Nestle’s treats are safe, as they repeatedly claim, death and illness would never have been the end result for so many,” she said.

Rising dog ownership in India driving demand for petfood, accessories

Dog ownership in India is rising, according to Euromonitor International, which projects India as the fastest growing global pet market, and rising pet ownership rates are driving demand for pet food, health products and pet accessories.
The Times of India says Gurgaon, India, has a ratio of one dog per 15 people in the city. 
Tanmay Sharma, owner of Pets Pash, said: "When we say 'pet,' the first thing that comes to mind is a dog. The most important reason why people prefer a dog is that after a long, tiring and stressful day, one can relax and enjoy with their pet." 
Rana Atheya, co-owner of e-commerce dog product site Dogspot.in, said that as the status of pets is elevated in India, demand for pet care is also expected to become more sophisticated, with Indian consumers purchasing more premium pet foods and specialty products as they gain a better understanding of their pet's nutritional needs. According to Atheya, research reports indicate that Indian consumers have been slow to embrace feeding commercial petfoods in the past, opting for homemade foods instead, but their preferences are changing with the trend of pet humanization in India. 
Veterinarian Dr. Ashok Kumar, who runs a clinic and pet supply shop in Guragon, says that although the Indian pet product market supply and demand is not balanced, causing an inconsistent supply of pet products, competition within the market has increased, subsequently leading to improved practices.

Contest will award two winners and two animal rescues with free Spring Naturals dog food, treats

Spring Naturals pet food brand is partnering with Daily Kibble for a contest that will award two Daily Kibble subscribers with a chance to win free Spring Naturals dog food for themselves and the animal shelter or rescue of their choice. 
Daily Kibble readers can enter into the drawing by visiting the Daily Kibble Spring Naturals Web page by April 30, and submitting their name, email address, zip code and animal shelter or rescue of their preference. 
A grand-prize winner will be selected to receive US$500 in Spring Naturals dinners and treats for dogs, and the animal organization of the winner's choice will receive US$2,000 in donated Spring Naturals dinners to feed the pets in their care. A second winner will also be selected to receive US$250 in Spring Naturals dinners and treats for dogs, and $500 in dinners will also be donated to the animal organization of that winner's choice. 

Wagg Foods gives away dog treats in pet food packages

Wagg Foods, a UK manufacturer of dry dog food, is giving away 250,000 packs of Wagg treats as part of a promotion to honor loyal customers.
Inside a range of Wagg Adult Complete dog food and Wagg Worker packages is a free sample of Wagg Meaty Treats. The promotion, worth £250,000 (US$368,938.82) is taking place instead of the company cutting prices, a report says.

Nonprofit animal shelters, dog rescue groups may apply for Pedigree's Innovation grant

Pedigree dog food brand's Pedigree Foundation is now accepting 2012 grant applications from nonprofit, tax-exempt animal shelters and dog rescue groups. 
Pedigree's Innovation grants are awarded to animal shelters and dog rescue groups that demonstrate innovation and out-of-the-box thinking for raising awareness, volunteerism, donations and dog adoption. The grants range from US$10,000 to US$25,000. 
Interested groups can apply at www.pedigreefoundation.org by clicking on "Apply for a Grant." 

FDA member addresses FSMA requirements for pet food safety

At Petfood Forum 2012, Daniel G. McChesney, PhD, director of the Office of Surveillance and compliance, Center for Veterinary Medicine, US Food and Drug Administration, spoke to petfood and treat manufacturers and petfood ingredient suppliers about necessary requirements and timelines for compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Dr. McChesney told his audience that the main themes of the food safety law are prevention; inspections, compliance and response; enhanced partnerships; and import safety.
He said that manufacturing facilities will need to comply with a Preventative Control Rule, which will include not only current Good Manufacturing Practices, but also preventative controls such as process controls, supplier controls and sanitation controls that impact animal food safety. Additionally, Dr. McChesney said that manufacturing facilities will need to submit a written food safety plan. According to Dr. McChesney, many manufacturers already have these controls in place and will just need to come up with the written food safety plan. He advised the audience to "document everything" because records would be required as part of the law's Preventative Control Rule. Dr. McChesney said he was unsure of when the final Preventative Control Rules would be implemented, though it would likely be before an agreement between FDA and the Association of American Feed Control Officials expires on September 1, 2013.
Dr. McChesney said that one change in the new law would be that companies required to register under the Bioterrorism Act must re-register with the US Food and Drug Administration every two years, beginning in 2012. The agency is currently looking at an abbreviated registration process to support the biennial registration as well as requirements for revoking registration.
He also told the audience that the Food and Drug Administration is looking at mandates for putting the calorie content of petfoods on the petfood label, similar to what is currently done for human foods.
The US Food and Drug Administration's new Food Safety Modernization act Web page provides resources to aid manufacturers in understanding and complying with these new requirements.

Petfinder.com founder encourages manufacturers to donate pet food, treats

Betsy Banks Saul, founder of www.petfinder.com, at Petfood Forum 2012.

Betsy Banks Saul, founder of www.petfinder.com, opened Petfood Forum 2012 with a keynote address on animal welfare and how pet industry professionals can get involved with those initiatives.
Saul's site, www.petfinder.com, is a network of pet shelters and rescue organizations that list pets available for adoption across the country. In her keynote speach, Saul addressed the need for pet food manufacturers to get involved with animal rescue.
She noted some shelters do not have a plan in place for feeding the large amount of pets they take in, many relying on monetary and food donations. One way pet food and treat manufacturers can help is by donating their extra or close-to-expired petfood products to shelters and rescue groups, instead of disposing them.

Raw dog food company K9 Natural adds new cat food

New Zealand-based raw pet food company K9 Natural recently added a new cat food to its offerings as the company's sales of its raw dog food continue to increase, says a recent article. 
Founded in April 2006 by former British police dog handler Geoff Bowers and dog breeder Bruce Mayhew, was named in 2011 to the Deloitte Fast 50 ranking as the country's fastest-growing manufacturer and has increased turnover by 300 percent for the past four years to nearly US$10 million. The company now sells both freeze-dried and frozen meat in New Zealand and exports 80 percent of its products to 18 markets overseas, the largest being Japan and the US.
"People are coming to us now, wanting to stock our product," said CEO Calvin Smith.
The company is also stepping up marketing efforts in New Zealand by selling its food at "pop-up" shops in shopping malls. 
"Auckland is a test market for us, for what we are going to do in Australia," Smith said. "We find that if you get in front of people, about 80 percent of them end up being loyal."
The company raised US$2.5 million in late 2011 to upgrade machinery and establish a larger sales network, and is also looking to fill a position of marketing/brand manager.

Pet supply chain caters to to organic, human-grade pet foods

Brad Kriser, owner of Feeding Pets for Life LLC, says he’s trying to attract pet owners to his pet supply chain by providing pet nutrition-conscious customers with a wide variety of all-natural, organic and human-grade pet foods and pet treats. 
Based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and Los Angeles, California, USA, the stores feature an assortment of brands of natural dog and cat food, as well as upscale pet toys and clothing and unique items like bison-tendon treats and duck-feet snacks. 
“The Whole Foods of the pet world—that's what we want to be known as,” Kriser said.
In the stores, a sign, signed by Kriser, reads “All our foods are personally approved by me. And yes, I've tried them all.” 
“We're trying to show there's someone behind every decision,” he said.
Kriser says his least-expensive brand, Canidae, retails for US$10 for 4 pounds, while, in contrast, premium supermarket dog foods typically cost about US$7 for the same-sized bag.
Kriser says that his revenue increased by 40 percent in 2011. He is currently looking for capital to open seven more locations in 2012, including one in a new market of Denver, Colorado, USA. He hopes to eventually grow the company into a national chain with more than 100 locations.

RECALL: Diamond Pet foods voluntarily recalls Lamb Meal & Rice dog food

Diamond Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall of its Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice formula as a precautionary measure because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The petfood manufacturer says the dog food recall is a voluntary measure and that no illnesses have been reported and none of the company's other pet food products are affected. 

The recall applies to Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice formulas sold in 6-lb., 20-lb. and 40-lb. bags. The 6-lb. bags are marked with a "Best Before" date of January 4, 2013, and production code of DLR0101D3XALW; the 20-lb. bags are marked with a "Best Before" date of January 3, 2013, and production code of DLR0101C31XAG; and the 40-lb. bags are marked with "Best Before" dates of January 3, 2013, and January 4, 2013, and production codes of DLR0101C31XMF, DLR0101C31XAG and DLR0101D32XMS. 

The recalled products were distributed in the United States in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, USA, but may have been distributed through other petfood channels in other states.

Consumers who purchased the recalled dog food may get more information or a product refund by calling             +1.800.442.0402       or by visiting www.diamondpet.com, where consumers cancontact the company directly via email. 

RECALL: FDA to investigate chicken jerky dog treats made in China

US Food and Drug Administration inspectors are being sent to manufacturing facilities in China that make chicken jerky dog treats to investigate a potential link between illnesses and deaths in dogs and the treats, according to MSNBC.  
The exact number of inspectors involved in the chicken jerky treat investigation and the plants that will be visited are unknown, and Food and Drug Administration officials declined to comment on the inspections. 
The inspections in China come after growing pressure from US pet owners, including Robin Pierre, a co-founder of “Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made in China," who says she has collected more than 7,000 signatures on a petition urging the Food and Drug Administration to take action.
"While I am happy that the FDA is in China investigating now, it never should have taken this long. Too many of our innocent and voiceless companions suffered horrific deaths...No animal should have ever had to die because of a 'treat'," she said.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition updates thyroid health cat food guidelines

Hill’s Pet Nutrition released an updated set of guidelines and algorithms for veterinarians managing a cat's  hyperthyroid conditions with its Prescription Diet y/d Feline Thyroid Health pet food. 
Prescription Diet y/d Feline must be the only food eaten by the feline patient, Hill’s says, because consuming any other food or treats will decrease or prevent the cat food’s beneficial effects.
S. Dru Forrester, DVM, director of scientific and technical communication for Hill’s, says veterinarians should first perform a clinical examination on the feline patient, checking for signs such as weight loss, polyphagia, hyperactivity, polyuria, polydipsia, cardiac murmur, tachycardia, vomiting and diarrhea.
Following the clinical examination, vets should do a diagnostic evaluation on the patient, involving looking at the patient’s history, physical examination, complete blood count, serum chemistries, urinalysis and measurement of serum thyroxine, or T4, said Dr. Forrester.
After the diagnosis, Dr. Forrester recommends that vets discuss their findings with the pet owner and outline the various management options, which include radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid medication methimazole, Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d Feline or a thyroidectomy.
“Every veterinarian who diagnoses this should discuss all of those options with the pet owner, and the advantages and disadvantages of each,” she said. “You have to figure out what’s best for the individual cat and the owner.”
If a hyperthyroid cat is being transitioned from medication to the pet food, Forrester said that a baseline evaluation should be done, and depending on the results, the medication dosage should either be discontinued or reduced by 50 percent when the transition to the cat food begins.
“The food and the medication can have a potentially potent effect, making the thyroid hormone go too low,” said Forrester. “Cats should be carefully monitored when they transition off the medication and are beginning nutritional management. In the recently revised guidelines, we added more detailed information to help veterinarians understand the importance of doing that baseline evaluation, even though the cat is receiving anti-thyroid medication.”
The most current version of suggested guidelines and algorithms are available online.
“The key is careful monitoring,” said Forrester. “Use your clinical judgment. The guidelines we’ve provided are suggestions and can’t account for every nuance of every single patient. The attending veterinarian is in the best position to make decisions for their individual patients.”

High-quality pet food may save owners from paying high vet bills in the future

Pet food expert Sarah Linehan, of The Pet Experience, discussed the importance of providing quality pet food diet and how it can help maintain a pet’s health in a recent article.
She says that although there are many different pet supplies that pet owners need to purchase, a high-quality pet food is the most important.
While a high-quality pet food may cost consumers more up-front, she says, it will save money in the long run because it contains more nutritional ingredients and may prevent owners from having to pay higher vet bills as their pet gets older.
"Although the bag may cost more, usually the high quality brands work out cheaper in the long term as the feeding quantities are much lower, so the bag will last a lot longer than the cheap bag from the local supermarket," Linehan says.

Petfood industry critic challenges FDA consumer education video

A recently released video from the US Food and Drug Administration aimed at educating consumers about petfood is now being challenged by a petfood industry critic, who posted her own video challenging the US Food and Drug Administration’s claims. 
The six-minute video from the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, “FDA and Pet Food,” informs consumers of the information required by law to be included on pet food packaging, such as a pet food ingredients list that uses the “common or usual” name for each ingredient.
“The rules for listing and naming ingredients allow purchasers to know what was used to make the product and to compare ingredients in one brand of food to another,” video narrator and Center for Veterinary Medicine veterinarian, Bill Burkholder, says.

However, petfood industry critic Susan Thixton's five-minute “Response to FDA Pet Food Video” on her website criticizes the Food and Drug Administration video, saying it is “full of misleading statements”about information such as pet food ingredients and their names. Thixton says in her video that “a consumer must become their own private detective to learn the truth about what they’re feeding their pet.”
The Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine did not comment on the video. Kurt Gallagher, spokesman for the Pet Food Institute, said Thixton’s video was “rife with inaccuracies and misrepresentations.”
“Petfood is the most highly regulated food product, with the exception of infant formula,” Gallagher said.

Pet Food Alliance encourages vets to discuss pet diets with owners

At a recent meeting, representatives of the Pet Food Alliance discussed what the group is trying to accomplish five years after the widespread pet food recall in 2007, says a recent article from the Chicago Tribune. 
Following the recall, the Alliance is working to encourage veterinarians to discuss pet diets and pet nutrition with clients and to set nutrition guidelines. Dr. Kate Knutson of the Alliance said the the group is also working to educate consumers on how to properly read petfood labels and what they mean. 
For the first time, the Alliance's opening remarks and scientific sessions at the meeting were streamed in real time on the Internet. The Allliance says it hopes to stream more sessions online next year, and will also integrate the Blog Paws conference of pet bloggers into the meeting. 

See videos from 2012 Petfood Forum

See the latest videos from the 2012 Petfood Forum and Workshop, the world's premier show for the pet food industry. The show, held April 2-4, in Schaumburg, Ill., features a hall with hundreds of exhibitors, lectures, networking and other educational sessions.

 ADM employee eats petfood biscuit with human-grade ingredients
Feed Ingredients company brings companion animal to work 
How petfood manufacturers can promote animal welfare
Understanding the forces driving input prices  

UK animal welfare groups launch pet care resource website

Results from two new surveys conducted by the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association found that 89 percent of adults, 78 percent of primary teachers and 70 percent of secondary teachers all agree that it is important to teach children responsibility through proper pet care, though pet care is not currently taught at the majority of primary and secondary schools (60 percent and 85 percent, respectively) in the UK. To aid in educating children about how to care for pets, UK animal welfare charities have collaborated to launch a new website that provides pet care and pet nutrition resources all in one place. 
The Pet Food Manufacturers' Association helped to establish the Education Alliance, made up of pet welfare groups including Blue Cross, The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Alliance's free educational resource website, www.peteducationresources.co.uk, features an interactive map, allowing users to find pet establishments they can visit and organizations that will come to schools to do pet care demonstrations. The site also has links to resources and lesson plans to help teachers make learning about pets fun. 
Sean Wensley, senior veterinary surgeon for communication and education at The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, said: “PDSA is delighted to be part of this collaboration of pet charities and organizations. Between us, we provide a wealth of high-quality information on pet health and welfare. We hope that making all of these resources available from a single website will raise awareness of the materials available and make credible, evidence-based information easy to locate and access.”

Hill's Pet Nutrition, PetMD to launch online cat nutrition tool

Hill's Pet Nutrition is partnering with PetMD for MyBowl for cats, an interactive tool that shows the proper proportions and specific benefits of essential nutrients that cats need.
Launching April 2, MyBowl for cats will be available as part of PetMD's Cat Nutrition Center that offers a variety of educational resources for pet owners. In celebration of the launch, during the month of April, cat owners can take an interactive cat nutrition quiz and be entered for a chance to win one of four US$2,500 pet retailer gift cards and a rebate for new Hill’s Science Diet Ideal Balance pet food for cats.

New animal food global market report released

Global Research & Data Services released a new research report package, Animal Food - Top 10 Global Markets, which incorporates 10 animal food market analyses from the "top 10" global markets of the United States, China, Japan, India, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Mexico.  
Each report provides market information including overall market value and volume for animal food by country, market value and volume for animal food by type (cat and dog food, pellets and lucerne meal, other animal food), and product prices. It also includes market forecasts and future outlooks through 2016, overall country overviews, and macroeconomic and doing-business indicators in each pertinent country. The report packages are also available region-wise, by the "top 5" American, Asian, European and African markets. 
The report packages can be purchased online. 

ADM Alliance Nutrition to build new pet food premix plant

ADM Alliance Nutrition Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company, will build a new feed premix plant in Effingham, Illinois, USA, with enhanced processes and controls to meet safety standards for petfood premixes and specialty blends.
The new facility, expected to be fully operational in early 2014, will incorporate stainless steel conveyances and processing equipment, with automation enabling real-time tracking of every ingredient through bar coding and lot controlled numbering systems. The new facility will be located adjacent to the company’s warehouse and will replace its existing premix manufacturing plant in Effingham.
“As animal feed safety regulations evolve, this new facility will position Alliance Nutrition at the forefront of the industry, with one of the most advanced premixing facilities in the world,” said Chuck Loefer, general manager, petfood premixes and specialty blending division. “We will be using the latest equipment and automated processes to help ensure product quality and safety.”

Brazilian Association of the Pet Product Industry releases safety manual

The Brazilian Association of the Pet Product Industry recently published its Pet Food Brasil Manual with the goal of constantly improving petfood production.   
The new publication is an update of the current PIQ PET Manual, which was developed six years ago by the entity's technical groups of professionals from associated companies and universities.

The goal of the publication is to provide the public, academic and private institutions of the pet product sector with a reference for food quality and safety. The manual also has information on technical and quality standards of raw material, nutritional parameters, applicable analytical methodologies and the ideal production conditions in order to ensure safe petfood for domestic and international markets.