Pet food companies must re-register with FDA by December 31

A part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold pet food in the US or foreign pet food facilities that export to the US must re-register with the US Food and Drug Administration in even-numbered years.
In 2012, facilities must re-register between October 1 and December 31, or face civil or criminal penalties, including the possibility of product seizure and plant closure.
The initial requirement to register facilities began in 2003 under the Bioterrorism Act, but facilities must now register bi-annually under new requirements in the Food Safety Modernization Act. Facilities must also update registration when facility information changes. 

FDA Annual Report criticized for omitting status of regulations

In August, the US Food and Drug Administration submitted its second Annual Report on Food Facilities, Food Imports and FDA Foreign Offices, as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act, which details the progress FDA has made in protecting petfood and food safety.
However, organizations criticize FDA because the Report does not include the status of some regulations the Food Safety Modernization Act required to be publicized, including:
• Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (Section 103);
• Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Benefit Preventive Controls for Food for Animals (Section 103);
• Produce Safety Regulations (Section 105);
• Protection Against Intentional Adulteration of Food (Section 106); and
• Foreign Supplier Verification Program (Section 301).
As a result, two organizations, the Center for Food Safety and the Center for Environmental Health filed a complaint against Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of FDA, and Jeffrey Zients, acting director of office of management and budget, in the US Federal District Court for the Northern District of California, USA. In the complaint, the two organizations alleged that:
• FDA has missed seven deadlines so far in failing to implement FSMA’s major food safety regulations. FDA has submitted several of these unlawfully delayed regulations to the OMB, where they are still awaiting approval. However, FDA has authority to promulgate the regulations without OMB approval, the organizations say.
• In the complaint, entitled, Center for Food Safety, et al. v. Margaret E. Hamburg, M.D., et al., the organizations further allege that “at least nine additional FSMA deadlines will come due in early 2013” and express concern that “[b]ased on FDA’s lack of progress to date, [the Centers] have serious concerns regarding the likelihood that these future deadlines will be met.”
The groups have asked the court for various relief, including a declaration that FDA has violated FSMA by "failing to promulgate regulations by the statutory deadlines and ordering FDA to promulgate all FSMA regulations as soon as reasonably practicable, according to Court-imposed deadlines," according to reports. 

RECALL: Boots & Barkley Beef Bully Sticks treats recalled for Salmonella

Kasel Associated Industries is recalling Boots & Barkley 5-inch American Beef Bully Sticks because the pet treats may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The recalled American Beef Bully Sticks were distributed through Target retail stores in the US from April through September. The recall applies to all lot numbers of the treats, marked with barcode 647263899189, which are sold in a six-count, clear plastic bag.
The company is recalling all lot numbers of the product because a sampling by the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture found the following lot numbers tested positive for Salmonella: BESTBY20APR2014DEN, BESTBY01JUN2014DEN, BESTBY23JUN2014DEN and BESTBY23SEP2014DEN.
No illnesses have been reported to date in animals or humans in connection with this problem. Symptoms of illness from Salmonella in humans include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever, as well as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, though some pets may only have decreased appetite, abdominal pain.
Consumers may return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.800.218.4417, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MDT.

Perrigo Co. to purchase Sergeant's Pet Care for $285 million

Perrigo Co., a manufacturer and distributor of over-the-counter and generic prescription drugs for the human market, will purchase Sergeant’s Pet Care Products Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at $285 million, according to the companies.
Privately held Sergeant's Pet Care Products manufactures the Vetscription Cat Hairball Remedy, Geisler line of food and treats for birds and small animals, and the Atlantis line of fish food. The company anticipates sales of more than $140 million in fiscal 2012.
“This acquisition allows us to penetrate the pet care category by offering numerous flea and tick, health and well-being, and consumable products to pet owners at affordable prices,” Perrigo chairman and CEO, Joseph C. Papa said. “Sergeant’s has a proven record of innovation, high-quality manufacturing with great customer service. We welcome Sergeant’s 200-plus employees and over 1,000 SKUs to the Perrigo family.”
The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.

HH Backer sells 'Pet Age' magazine to Journal Multimedia

Pet industry trade show producer H.H. Backer Associates sold its Pet Age magazine to Journal Multimedia.
H.H. Backer's last publication will be the December 2012 issue of Pet Age. Journal Multimedia will take over the publication with the January 2013 issue. 

FDA releases guidelines on therapeutic pet food labeling, distribution

The US Food and Drug Administration recently released draft guidelines on how it plans to regulate compliance with federal requirements for the labeling and distribution of therapeutic dog and cat foods.
The guides will serve to enforce the animal drug provisions of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, according to FDA.
“Since 1988, the Center for Veterinary Medicine has observed an increase in the number of dog and cat food products making such claims that are sold with, or without, the direction of a licensed veterinarian,” the FDA states in its notice. “Because of this increase, and to help ensure animal safety, CVM is issuing this draft compliance policy guide to set out its current thinking with respect to factors it will consider before determining whether to take regulatory action against dog and cat food products intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.”
In its policy guide, FDA recommends to therapeutic petfood manufacturers:
• The product should be made available to the public only through licensed veterinarians or through retail or Internet sales to individuals purchasing the product under the direction of a veterinarian.
• The product should not be marketed as an alternative to approved new animal drugs.
• The manufacturer must be registered under section 415 of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
• The product’s labeling must comply with all food labeling requirements.
• The product should not include indications for a disease claim on the label.
• Distribution of labeling and promotional materials with any disease claims should be limited to veterinary professionals.
• Electronic resources that disseminate labeling information and promotional materials should be secured so that they are available only to veterinary professionals.
• The product must contain only ingredients that are generally recognized as safe, approved food additives or feed ingredients defined in the 2012 Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
• The labeling of the product should not be false or misleading in other respects.
Comments to FDA can be made through the online federal register until November 9. 

Blue Dog Bakery launches Pet Treat Pantry

Blue Dog Bakery has launched the Pet Treat Pantry, a partnership between the Seattle, Washington, USA-based all-natural dog treat company and select food banks in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina and New Jersey.
The partnership will provide treats to the dogs of food bank clients. To start the Pet Treat Pantry, Blue Dog Bakery donated 4,572 boxes of Blue Dog Bakery treats to five participating food banks across the country. Through December 2012, for each shopper who purchases a specially marked box of Blue Dog Bakery treats, the company will donate a box to the Pet Treat Pantry, up to 100,000 boxes. Customers can enter the registration code found on the box online and select one of five participating food banks to direct their donation.
Participating Pet Treat Pantry food banks in the USA include:
• Rainier Valley Food Bank – Seattle, Washington
• The Pongo Fund – Portland, Oregon
• Empty Bowl Pet Food Pantry – Phoenix, Arizona
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina – Charlotte, North Carolina
• The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties – Neptune, New Jersey
“Food banks ease the hunger of those in need, but we seldom think about the pets that live with them,” said Sam Osborne, executive director of the Rainer Valley Food Bank in Seattle. “Hunger is an issue that touches the lives of dogs just as much as their owners. Our pets are our families in every sense of the word, and are often one of the most important things getting these individuals through tough times. For a dog, treats say ’I love you’ and to be able to provide healthy treats for our families with pets is something truly special.”

My Perfect Pet exhibits new pet food blends at SuperZoo 2012

My Perfect Pet, a frozen and fresh pet food company, participated in SuperZoo 2012, which took place September 11-13 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. My Perfect Pet showcased two new specialty pet food blends and provided informational packets for distributors and retailers.
The company showed its new Ultra-Low Glycemic Chicken and Ultra-Low Glycemic Beef blends, formulated for dogs with special dietary needs. The new blends will be available through all current and new retailer and distributor channels in late September.
“Having a presence at SuperZoo 2012 is a great opportunity for us to engage with distributors and retailers nationwide and introduce My Perfect Pets’ latest products to the industry’s leading professionals,” said Karen Scoggins, founder and president of My Perfect Pet. “We also hope to establish new relationships with distributors in other regions so we can provide My Perfect Pet products to new consumers asking for it across the country.” 

Zuke's reveals sustainable trade show booth at SuperZoo

Zuke's booth at SuperZoo is made of fir plywood and cedar materials that reflect the company's commitment to sustainability.

At SuperZoo 2012, Zuke's unveiled a line of cat treats from its new eco-friendly trade show booth #2147.
Zuke's worked with Greenspace, a design and fabrication company, to develop the sustainable booth, which is made of fir plywood and cedar materials. The booth depicted bright green details and outdoor lifestyle images that go along with the company's rebranding effort and encourage pet owners to be more active with their pets.
“As a company that has been headquartered in Durango, Colorado, since the beginning, we decided to redesign our booth to best express what Zuke’s is all about,” said Zuke’s marketing manager, Grant Berry. “Furthermore, we wanted to create a welcoming space that exudes the essence of the company and optimize customer interaction.”
Additionally, the company launched the G-Zees line of grain-free cat treats, which are formulated with glucosamine and cranberry to support mobility and urinary tract health. The treats are available in both salmon and turkey flavors. The company also introduced a new tuna flavor in its Natural Purrz treats line at SuperZoo. 

Chicken jerky treats linked to deaths of 360 dogs, 1 cat

FDA recommends owners eliminate feeding jerky treat products from China with more than 2,200 claims of illnesses or deaths

Over the past 18 months, federal health officials have said claims of illnesses linked to chicken jerky treats imported from China have now reached more than 2,200, including reports that at least 360 dogs and one cat have reportedly died after eating the treats.
The Food and Drug Administration recommended pet owners avoid the jerky products entirely. “FDA is reminding pet owners that jerky pet treats are not necessary for pets to have a fully balanced diet, so eliminating them will not harm pets,” agency officials said in an online report.
FDA also said it will begin testing the treats to see whether irradiation of the products may have contributed to the reported treat-related symptoms, ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to kidney failure, Fanconi syndrome and death. US regulations allow petfood, including pet treats, to be irradiated up to a maximum of 50 kiloGrays to provide microbial disinfection or elimination of other pathogens.
However, repeated tests conducted at FDA laboratories, at the agency's Veterinary Response Laboratory Network and by other labs have failed to detect any microbiological, chemical or other contaminants in high enough levels to cause the symptoms in the pets. “To date, none of the testing results have revealed an association between a causative agent and the reported illnesses,” FDA said.

Dr. Harvey's introduces new dog food formula at SuperZoo

Dr. Harvey's Veg-to-Bowl Fine Ground is a pre-mix meal with nine dehydrated vegetables and herbs for dogs.

Dr. Harvey’s introduced its newest canine formulation, Veg-to-Bowl Fine Ground, at Pet SuperZoo in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, September 11-13.
The new formula is grain free and has nine dehydrated vegetables and herbs. Veg-to-Bowl dog food is a pre-mix meal that just requires pet owners to add water, oil and a protein of their choice.
“What you feed to your companion animals is the key to their health, and just as important as what we feed ourselves,” said Wendy Shankin-Cohen, president and CEO of Dr. Harvey’s. “Feeding artificial and low-grade ingredients is still the number one reason for the rise in degenerative diseases. We are committed to making the very best food made from the very best ingredients!”

Hill's Pet Nutrition to reformulate Science Diet pet foods

Hill’s Pet Nutrition will reformulate its Science Diet dogs and cat foods to add more natural ingredients.
The company made the decision to reformulate the Science Diet petfoods because some consumers were making product choices based primarily on a set criteria for ingredients, rather than the overall promise of nutrition and clinical research. Hill's says the new Science Diet dog and cat food formulas will feature:
• Quality protein as the first ingredient
• Natural ingredients
• No chicken by-product
• No artificial colors or flavors
• Great taste, guaranteed
Along with the new formulation, Hill’s also will introduce new packaging designs, as well as new color-coded product groupings under Life Stage, Life Style and Life Care, which will soon appear in pet stores to make it easier for pet owners to select the right food for their pet. Hill’s will begin shipping the new pet food formulations to specialty pet stores and veterinarians in December. 

Brakke Consulting expands into Chinese animal health market

Brakke Consulting has joined with VaxiAm LLC, located in Manhattan, Kansas, USA, to expand its consulting services into the Chinese animal health market.
VaxiAm is currently helping Chinese animal health companies to set up research and development laboratories in the US, to evaluate new technologies and products that can be licensed to China, and to identify business partners for animal health markets in China and the US.
Dr. Jishu Shi is the principal owner of VaxiAm LLC. A native of China, Shi received his doctor of veterinary medicine from the Beijing/China Agricultural University in 1985, a master’s in science from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science in 1988, a doctorate in immunophysiology from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1995 and completed postdoctoral research in immunology at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1998. Among his credentials, Dr. Shi is an associate professor for the college of veterinary medicine at Kansas State University and also the director of the US-China Center for Animal Health, which is a training center for the improvement of Chinese animal health education and research.
“Many of our clients are interested in marketing their products or services to a rapidly growing Chinese animal health market,” said Ronald Brakke, president and CEO of Brakke Consulting. “As part of VaxiAm, Dr. Shi brings his expertise and connections in the Chinese animal health industry. We also believe that Brakke’s extensive experience and knowledge will benefit Chinese firms desiring to enter the U.S. and European animal health markets.”

PetHub to expand services into overseas markets

USA-based PetHub Inc. will expand into the markets of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa and the Netherlands, Tom Arnold, founder, announced at the World Pet Association’s SuperZoo trade show for pet product retailers.
In August, the company had a successful “soft launch” outside of the US and Canada into other English-speaking countries. The launch includes translated versions of the website, starting with Dutch and German.
“The market is driving which languages we support first,” said Arnold. “Four hundred retail stores in the Netherlands...are now able to provide our Internet services, quickly followed by Swiss and German distributors.”
PetHub Inc. licenses the use of its smartphone-scannable technology and Web services to manufacturers looking to offer pet owners the ability to link a tag to a free Internet profile. Each profile linked to a tag can show emergency contacts, vaccinations, license and rabies tag numbers, microchip codes, animal caretaker details and more. 

Glenroy launches pet food packaging app for iPhone, iPad

Glenroy Inc., a converter and printer of flexible pet food packaging film, launched a flexible packaging iPhone and iPad application.
The apps, available as a free download in the Apple market, allows users to quickly calculate commonly used flexible packaging specifications such as roll weight, roll footage, roll diameter, basis weight and yield. Also available are several conversion tools including MSI (thousand square inches) to Linear Feet, MI (thousand impressions) to linear feet, MI to MSI, pounds to linear feet, meters to linear feet, and linear feet to impressions. Users can also email the calculations and conversions directly from their Apple devices.
The app has also been available for Android smartphones since late 2010, available from Google Play.

Indian pet care market to reach US$144.8 million by 2015

According to a report from Euromonitor International, the pet care market in India is estimated to reach Rs800 crore (US$144.8 million) by 2015 from Rs368 crore (US$66.6 million) in 2011, as pet ownership rises and fuels greater demand for pet care products.
Industry players estimate that average spending on pets is crossing more than Rs10,000 (US$180.74) per month, which includes daily hygiene care, petfood, vaccination and other services. As consumers in India gain a better understanding of their pets' needs, the report expects consumers may trade up to premium or specialized products. Pet owners in India will likely spend even more on services such as pet sitting, pet parties and spas as pets become more important in the country.

Second Interpets hosts 257 pet product exhibitors in Japan

Interpets – International Fair for a Better Life with Pets, held August 23-26 at Makuhari Messe in Japan, welcomed 257 exhibitors from 13 countries and 46,883 visitors, an increase of 20 percent, to this second pet industry show.
The fair aimed to provide ideas to enhance the lifestyle of pet owners and their pets as well as provide a platform for overseas manufacturers and retailers to exhibit new pet products.
In addition to having twice the number of overseas exhibitors as the previous year, the show also saw an increase in the number of participants from other business sectors such as automobile, IT, and interior and design.
Renault Japon Co. Ltd. in collaboration with Lager Corporation introduced a special edition of their “Renault Kangoo,” designed for pets and pet owners. Masato Komatsu, of Renault Japon Co Ltd., said: “To sum up our reason for participation, our goal is to propose a new lifestyle. Pet owner’s lifestyles tend to be confined indoors, which can be a challenge when you have animals that are very active like dogs. To change that, we created a special model so pet owners could enjoy outdoor trips and comfortable experience with their pets. This car model has solved the problems that pet owners often face during car trips and at the same time maintained its stylishness as we are a French car manufacturer."
The third edition of Interpets will be held August 22-25, 2013, at Makuhari Messe Hall 7 and 8.

Senator leads initiative for FDA petfood product advisories

In the wake of recent US Food and Drug Administration investigations into dog illnesses linked to jerky treats imported from China, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, USA, is leading a new initiative to reform the way consumers are notified when FDA issues a product advisory.
Currently, FDA's website is the only place where product advisories are listed, which puts those consumers without access to the Internet or computers at risk as they are less likely to receive an online warning. Chambers' proposal asks legislators to create a law whereby any products under FDA advisory must have the warning also posted on store shelves where they are sold.
Other members of congress have also criticized FDA for its investigation of the jerky treats as well, including both Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Sen. Sherrod Brown. After auditing FDA, the Department of Health and Human Services issued the following statement relating to the investigation into the treats:
“FDA has developed procedures for monitoring recalls and assessing a firm’s recall effectiveness. However, FDA did not always follow its procedures in overseeing three of the five recalls that we reviewed. Furthermore, FDA’s procedures were not always adequate for monitoring large recalls. FDA’s lack of authority, coupled with its sometimes lax adherence to its recall guidance and internal procedures and the inadequacy of some of those procedures, limited FDA’s ability to ensure that contaminated petfood was promptly removed from retailers’ shelves.” 

By Nature Pet Foods launches online resource for dogs owners

By Nature Pet Foods has launched a new online resource that features the journey back to health of a former bait dog and offers an engaging way for pet owners to access tips on dog ownership.
The new resource tells the story of Colin, an American Bulldog that was used as a bait dog before being found on the streets of Miami, Florida, USA, as well as features two other dogs, all rescued by Big Dog Ranch Rescue and adopted into homes. The resource also provides tips to pet owners on dog ownership, from grooming to nutrition.
Additionally, By Nature Pet Foods donated petfood to Big Dog Ranch Rescue as part of a new partnership, which is being used at the rescue and sent home with adoptive families.

Texas A&M University to hold pet food extrusion short course

Texas A&M University staff, industry representatives and consultants will present a one week Practical Short Course on Feeds & Pet food Extrusion on February 3-8, 2013.
The program will cover information on designing new feed mills and selecting conveying, drying, grinding, conditioning and feed mixing equipment. Current practices for production of pet foods, preparing full-fat soy meal; recycling fisheries by-products, raw animal products and secondary resources; extrusion of floating, sinking and high-fat feeds; spraying and coating fats, digests and preservatives; use of encapsulated ingredients and preparation of premixes; and least cost formulation are reviewed.
Practical demonstration of petfood, vacuum coating and others are demonstrated on four major types of extruders (dry, interrupted flights, single and twin screw), using various shaping dies.
Reservations are accepted on a first-come basis. For more information, programs and application forms, contact: Dr. Mian N. Riaz, Food Protein R&D Center, 2476 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, by phone at +1.979.845.2774.

RECALL: Breeder's Choice recalls AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula adult dog food for Salmonella

Breeder’s Choice Pet Food is recalling a single manufacturing batch of Breeder’s Choice AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Dog food products affected by the recall are 26-pound bags of AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Food Formula, marked with product code 1000065074, UPC code 0 5290702043 8, and "Best Before" dates of August 28, 29 and 30, 2013. The AvoDerm Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Formula product was originally manufactured on August 29, and was distributed on August 30 and 31, to California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington, USA.
No human or pet illnesses have been reported to-date. The recall is being issued based on a single manufacturing batch in which a sample with the “Best Before” dates listed above had a positive test result for Salmonella. Salmonella testing was conducted by Silliker Inc.
Healthy people exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite and/or abdominal pain.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should contact Breeder’s Choice customer service representatives at +1.866.500.6286.

Pet Industry Spring Trade Show postponed to 2014

The Pet Industry Spring Trade Show will be postponed from 2013 to 2014 and will switch to a biennial format from then on.
Colette Fairchild, the show’s director from H.H. Backer, cited general market factors and a lack of support from key distributors and manufacturers for a 2013 East Coast US show. 

Veterinarian opens pet obesity clinic at Tufts University

Dr. Deborah Linder of Tufts University recently opened an obesity clinic at the school’s North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA, campus to help people help their pets lose weight.
The pet obesity clinic is one of just a few to be associated with a veterinary school and staffed by specialists trained in pet obesity and other health problems. In addition to treating dog and cat patients, Linder also conducts research on pet obesity at the clinic.
The biggest challenge in addressing pet obesity, Linder says, is that most owners do not accurately assess their pet's weight. Nearly 40 percent of owners of overweight pets do not think their pet has a problem, according to research.
For most dogs, Linder says the best way to identify a weight problem is to touch around the rib cage, which should feel about as padded as the back of the owner’s hand. For cats, “if there’s a fat pad in the abdomen between the back legs, that cat is overweight,” said Dr. Kathryn E. Michel, medical director and nutrition professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
“What really gets me is that obesity and even [having] overweight animals is completely preventable,” Linder said. “We do the best we can to help them, but it would be better to prevent.” 

American Animal Hospital Association discourages raw diets

The American Animal Hospital Association has joined the American Veterinary Medical Association in discouraging the feeding of raw pet food diets to dogs and cats.
According to a statement on its website, the American Animal Hospital Association “does not advocate or endorse feeding pets any raw or dehydrated nonsterilized foods, including treats that are of animal origin.” The association's decision was based on “overwhelming scientific evidence” and cited 50 sources.
“Homemade raw food diets are unsafe because retail meats for human consumption can be contaminated with pathogens," the association said. “Studies that have been done on both commercially available and homemade raw protein diets have found a high percentage (30-50 percent) of them contaminated with pathogenic organisms, and up to 30 percent of the dogs fed such diets may shed pathogenic organisms in their stool.”

AVMA approves policy discouraging raw petfood diets

Following an earlier recommendation to pet owners, the American Veterinary Medical Association has approved a policy that discourages feeding raw animal-source protein diets to cats or dogs, unless the petfood has undergone a process that eliminates pathogens.
The new policy on raw petfood states that cooking and pasteurization are the “traditional” methods for eliminating pathogens in dog and cat food, but recognizes that safety methods such as irradiation are “being developed and implemented.” The new policy had two revisions, including a change from, “Never feed inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs” to, “Avoid feeding inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs.”
Nearly 91 percent of the association's delegates voted for the new policy during the organization’s convention in early August. Also at the meeting, the association provided a look at findings from its 2012 US Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, which will be made available in the fall. This survey of nearly 50,000 US households found that US pet ownership decreased by 2.4 percent from 2006-11, while pet spending increased. The average expenditure per dog was US$227 in 2011, up from US$200 in 2006. Expenditures per cat increased from US$81 to US$90.

Royal Canin launches feline spay/neuter Facebook campaign

Pet food manufacturer Royal Canin launched a new feline spay/neuter campaign that rewards cat owners with free petfood for sharing a Facebook infographic.
The “You Share, We Give” campaign began to celebrate the launch of the company’s new Spayed/Neutered cat food formulas. In addition to canned formulas, the Spayed/Neutered cat diets also include four dry formulas: Kitten, Appetite Control, Appetite Control 7+ and Spayed/Neutered 12+.
Facebook users who share Royal Canin's Facebook infographic with another Facebook user will receive a downloadable coupon good for a free sample of the Spayed/Neutered canned formula, with up to 25,000 cans total given away. The company will also donate US$25,000 to the American Humane Association in support of feline health research.

Nestle Purina debuts Be Happy dog, cat food line

Nestle Purina's Be Happy line includes two varieties of dry food for both dogs and cats.

Nestle Purina is debuting a new Be Happy line of dog and cat foods inspired by the happiness pets share with their owners.
Be Happy petfood formulas are designed to support strong bones and teeth, healthy vision and a healthy skin and coat. Be Happy is available in two varieties for cats: Deep Sea Duos Crunchies with Ocean Fish and Salmon Flavors, as well as Poultry Pair-adise Crunchies with Chicken and Turkey Flavors. Be Happy is also available in two varieties for dogs: Beef Flavor and Chicken Flavor.
With the launch of the new petfood, the brand is also reaching out through social media channels such as Facebook and Pinterest. On the Be Happy Facebook page, fans can create e-cards, customize their own t-shirts and upload photos from the Be Happy mobile photo app, available in iTunes and Google Play. The brand's Pinterest site includes a board for "Happiness Art," which features craft projects inspired by the brand's philosophy. 

Interpets 2012 draws record number of visitors, exhibitors

In 2012, the Japanese pet industry show Interpets drew more visitors than its first show in 2011, with 46,883 visitors in 2012 compared to 39,481 in 2011.
Among those who attended Interpets, which took place August 23-26, were 9,836 pet industry professionals.
The 2012 show also had 257 exhibitors, including 48 from abroad, exhibiting new products. This is higher than the 217 exhibitors the show drew in 2011, shortly after an earthquake in Fukushima.

Nestle expands Purina petfood production facility in Hungary

Pet food manufacturer Nestlé is investing more than CHF54 million (US$56.3 million) to expand its Purina petfood production facility in Hungary.
The expansion at the company's plant in Bük will create about 150 new jobs by the end of this year. When the project is completed in March 2013, the expanded facility will have four new production lines that will double the capacity to produce the company's pouch petfood brands, such as Felix and Friskies. 

SuperZoo 2012 to host 871 pet product, services exhibitors

The World Pet Association has announced that its pet industry trade show SuperZoo 2012 has increased booth space by 18 percent over last year's show, with 871 exhibiting pet product and services companies.
The show, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, September 11-13, will feature new pet market trends like all natural and organic products, high-tech accessories like programmable feeders and automatic doors, mobile services for seniors and their pets, and more. SuperZoo University will present content in three targeted tracks of business development, animal wellness and technology/Internet.
Among many other opportunities, pet professionals at SuperZoo will be treated to a concert by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo at the House of Blues, sponsored by pet food company P&G Pet Care. The performance will be held Tuesday, September 11, with general admission tickets available to attendees for US$10. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Pets in the Classroom program.

Groups commend FDA, AAFCO for ingredient definition process extension

Five major US grain, animal feed, feed ingredient and petfood organizations commended the US Food and Drug Administration and the Association of American Feed Control Officials for extending the current Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties, entitled Memorandum of Understanding Between the US Food and Drug Administration and the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
"This 12-month extension is vital to the continued success of the AAFCO ingredient review process. The US animal feed and petfood industries need workable paths for getting new feed ingredients approved and into the marketplace. The extension of the current [Memorandum of Understanding] will ensure there is no gap in available review mechanisms for the industry in short order.
"The ingredient review process has worked for many decades and we look forward to another very successful year and hopefully many more to come,” according to the five associations. 

Research and Markets offers new global pet food market report

Research and Markets added the Pet Food Market - Global Scenario, Trends, Industry Analysis, Size, Share And Forecast, 2011-2017 report to its offering.
The report identifies factors that will drive the pet food market and sub-markets in the next few years, with an analysis of the pet food industry, current market trends, industry drivers and challenges for better understanding of market structure. The report also provides analysis of pet food manufacturers, product sales, trend analysis by segments and demand by geography.
Highlights of the report include:


• Definition, estimates and forecast of pet food product market from 2011 to 2017
• Analysis of product segments for pet food product market with historical data and forecast
• Trends and forecast based on major geographical markets, namely US, Europe, Asia-Pacific and RoW based on segments of pet food product market
• Profiles of major market participants for better understanding of their contributions
Companies mentioned are: Mars Inc., Nestle SA, Colgate-Palmolive Co., Proctor & Gamble Co., Del Monte Foods Co., Agrolimen SA, Uni-Charm Corp., Nutriara Alimentos Ltda., Total Alimentos SA, Mogiana Alimentos SA