Zuke's launches online training program for sales partners

Zuke's Pet Performance Nutrition is launching a new online training program for its sales partners that will educate sales reps and retail sales associates and help encourage better product sell-through.
Through this training and incentive program, 3point5.com, Zuke's will provide pet product distributors and retailers with brand and product knowledge needed to provide customers with product recommendations and earn customer loyalty, increasing the probability of repeat purchases. The online training platform provides brands a means to create entertaining, sales-oriented presentations for their sales partners. It is accessible from a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Once sales professionals complete the training, they will not only have better information to make customer recommendations, but they will also have earned Zuke's gear, including a Polo shirt, a wristband, a pen and a button. They also become eligible for discounts on Zuke's products for personal use. 

RECALL: Goldenfeast recalls exotic bird food blends for possible Salmonella contamination

Goldenfeast is recalling several exotic bird food blends for potential Salmonella contamination.

Goldenfeast Inc. is recalling several exotic bird food blends due to possible Salmonella contamination from parsley flake ingredients supplied by Specialty Commodities Inc., an outside supplier to Goldenfeast. The recall involves the following Goldenfeast brands: Australian Blend, Bean Supreme, Caribbean Bounty, Gardenflora, Petite Hookbill, Schmitts Original, Basics Plus Finch and Basics Plus Parakeet.
On February 11, Specialty Commodities initiated a voluntary product recall of parsley flakes distributed to Goldenfeast on May 17, 2012, because the product may have the potential for Salmonella contamination.
Specific best-by dates and lot numbers can be found on the Food and Drug Administration's website. Recalled bird food products were distributed to retailers and distributors in the states of: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Virginia, USA, and Canada.
Customers who have purchased these products can contact Goldenfeast at +1.800.344.6536, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

Kemin to launch three feline health supplements under RESOURCES brand

Kemin will introduce three feline health supplements under the RESOURCES brand at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association's annual conference on August 24-27 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
These products, which include Feline Urinary Tract Support, Feline Immune System Support and Protegrity GI, will now be available as highly palatable chews.
"Our team has observed, both in trials and feeding at home, that the pill or capsule delivery form for feline supplements just isn't well accepted by the animal," said Dr. Andrew Yersin, president of the companion animal health division at Kemin. "Our goal in reformulating these products was twofold - provide the same proven actives that promote feline health and to improve acceptability by the pet, which then provides added convenience for the pet parent."
In addition, Kemin will sponsor a breakfast lecture on August 26 at the conference at 7 a.m. The presentation will feature Dr. Basko presenting, "A Complementary Approach to Feline Health and Wellbeing." Dr. Basko will discuss natural herbs and ingredients that can assist in managing common immune system and urinary tract challenges in felines.

No further FDA extensions allowed on FSMA deadlines, judge rules

The US Food and Drug Administration can no longer extend deadlines on releasing policies mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act, according to a judge's ruling in the US District Court of Northern California.
In the Center for Food Safety's lawsuit, originally filed in August 2012, Judge Phyllis Hamilton sided with the Center for Food Safety in her ruling against FDA over FSMA deadlines, which were originally ordered by Congress to be completed in July 2012.
"The Court ruled that FDA violated the law in April 2013, and set an injunction remedy in place in June, with new deadlines for draft and final rules," the center wrote in a press release. "[In July], FDA moved for reconsideration or a stay of the injunction with regard to the deadlines for two of those rules, food transport safety and intentional adulteration. Judge Hamilton denied FDA's motion and kept firm the dates for completion of all the rules."
"The court understands the FDA's position and is in sympathy with it, but remains of the opinion that the dispute here is between the FDA and Congress," Hamilton said. "This court is unwilling to grant extension after extension, or to permit the FDA to continually delay publication of this rule, in the face of the clear Congressional directive that this be a closed-end process."

Indian petfood market to see double-digit growth in fiscal 2013

Indian dog food companies will likely see double-digit growth in sales in the current fiscal year with growth expected to continue in future years, according to an industry official.
"While the world petfood market is worth US$65.8 billion and registered a 4 percent growth, the Indian petfood market has been showing a rapid growth," said Awral Beri, the founder of Kennel Kitchen, a dog food brand of Gitwako Farms (I) Pvt Limited.
Beri said that according to the Pet Food Market Assessment 2013, the sector in India is experiencing double-digit growth, well ahead of the global market, which is expected to continue its rally in coming years. 

Pre-registration opens for 2014 International Production & Processing Expo

Attendee and exhibitor pre-registration and hotel registration for the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is now open. The show will be held Tuesday-Thursday, January 28-30, 2014, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
IPPE is expected to attract more than 26,000 attendees and is a collaboration of three shows - International Poultry Expo, International Feed Expo and International Meat Expo. The event is sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the American Meat Institute (AMI).
Those interested can pre-register for a discounted price of US$50 through December 31. After December 31, the registration fee is US$70. IPPE's website provides information on registration for exhibitors and attendees, hotel registration and a schedule of 2014 educational seminars. New educational programs will be offered, including sessions on food safety, consumer trends and international trade.  
The 2014 show will again offer the "Members to Atlanta" program, which  waives the pre-registration fee through December 31 for attendees from member firms of all three associations engaged in the production of poultry, eggs and meat for consumption, and feed and petfood manufacturers.  

'Pet Care Packaging Market in Poland to 2017' report available to purchase online

A new report, Pet Care Packaging Market in Poland to 2017, is available online from MarketResearchReports.biz.
The report provides a detailed understanding of packaging consumption by individual product categories. It also looks at growth opportunities in packaging materials and types, as well as changing consumer demands. 

Nestle reports higher sales for first six months of 2013 with growth in pet care division

Nestle reported sales up 5.3 percent to CHF45.2 billion (US$48.8 billion) for the first six months of 2013 with growth in both North and Latin America, including the company's Purina pet care division.
The company reported strong growth specifically in cat food and treats in North America. In Latin America, pet care delivered double-digit growth across the region. In total, the North American zone reported sales of CHF13.6 billion (US$14.7 billion).
Europe's sales were CHF7.5 billion (US$8.1 billion) in total. Sales were aided by growth in the Purina pet care brand in the premium pet segment, with brands such as Proplan, ONE Dry and Gourmet. The company is also investing in a new pet care factory in Poland. 

PATS pet industry trade show attracts record number of exhibitors

The pet industry trade show, PATS, has attracted a record number of exhibitors for the sold-out show, taking place September 15-16 at Harrogate International Center in Yorkshire, UK.
With 160 exhibitors, the show will cover three halls of the exhibition center with new pet products. Companies exhibiting will include Beaphar, Sharples & Grant, Burgess Pet Care, Mars Petcare, Eurostitch, Vitakraft and Trixie. 

Research and Markets ‘Pet Products Focus’ webinar looks at petfood market trends

Research and Markets added a new webinar, Pet Products Focus: Emerging Trends to Watch, to its offerings. The webinar looks at emerging pet industry trends, from new pet products for pampering pets to products that address changing health needs.
The webinar identifies parts of the pet products market that are experiencing the fastest sales growth, types of health claims that are most prominent for new cat and dog foods, see examples of petfood product innovation, look at unique health demands and challenges for different dog breeds, and more.
The webinar also looks at claims about "natural" and "organic" petfood, gluten-free petfoods, ingredient sourcing issues and other petfood-related questions.

FDA extends comment periods on two proposed FSMA rules

FDA issued Federal Register notices to extend the comment periods on the proposed rules for Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food, and Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption for 60 additional days until November 15.
This is the second and final extension of the comment period for these two rules, part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. The extension of the comment period also applies to the information collection provisions associated with the proposed rules.
FDA extended the comment periods to allow those interested the opportunity to consider the interrelationships between the proposals, published January 16, and the two new proposed rules, published July 29. These new rules include the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals, and the Accreditation of Third-Party Auditors/Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits and to Issue Certifications.

Packaged Facts projects over US$21 billion in petfood spending in 2013

Consumer spending in the US pet market will reach US$62 billion in 2013, up 4.7 percent from 2012, according to US Pet Market Outlook 2013-2014.
This study, recently released by Packaged Facts, shows that petfood and veterinary services account for the majority of the market, with more than US$21 billion each in sales forecast for 2013. Non-medical services, such as grooming, boarding, training and pet sitting, are growing at the fastest annual rate of 6 percent.
Dogs account for two-thirds of sales in the overall pet products and services market, but account for 90 percent of spending in the non-medical services category.
Further research from Packaged Facts shows that consumers are becoming less price sensitive than in past years. Though sales in grocery stores have been relatively flat, pet owners have focused on pet specialty channels and premium pet products. Much of this trend is attributed to a growing demand for natural petfood products. 
Additionally, pet ownership by younger adults is at a higher level than recent years. "Half of the adults in their 20s have a dog in the household, up from only a third a decade ago," said David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts.
Other contributing factors to market growth and increased consumer spending are an increasing focus on animal health and the humanization of pets. 

Research and Markets adds 2013 report on world pet, pet supplies stores industries

Research and Markets now offers the 2013 Worldwide Pet & Pet Supplies Stores Industry-Industry & Market Report. This annual report provides timely pet industry statistics, forecasts and demographics, available for online purchase.
Included are current 2013 and 2014 forecast estimates on industry size (sales, establishments, employment), for the 47 largest countries in the world, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, China and Japan. Also provided are industry definitions, five-year historical trends and estimates on up to 10 sub-industries, including pets, petfood, pet toys, fish food, aquariums and tropical fish. 

SuperZoo 2013 sees record number of new pet product launches

SuperZoo reported another successful show for its 2013 event, held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegaas, Nevada, USA. The pet retailer event saw growth in attendance, exhibitors and square footage for the fourth consecutive year. 
SuperZoo attracted 9 percent more attendees in 2013 than 2012, as well as 982 exhibitors, covering 191,525 square feet of space. The show also saw more new pet products debut than previous shows. Select exhibitors were awarded for innovation through Best New Products of 2013 awards across nine categories.
"We work hard to add value to the show each year," said World Pet Association President Doug Poindexter. "It's so gratifying to see the pet industry respond with such enthusiasm."

Pet products distributor Pet Food Experts buys Zeus & Co.

East Coast wholesale pet products distributor Pet Food Experts has reportedly purchased Zeus & Co., allowing the family owned company to expand into the Midwest petfood market.
"We are excited about bringing our family-style personal relationships to Midwest retailers," said Michael Baker, president of Pet Food Experts.
With its purchase, Pet Food Experts will grow to cover 21 USA states from warehouses in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Zeus' distribution center in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, will serve independent retailers in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri, USA.
Owner of Zeus, David Levy, will stay with Pet Food Experts as president of the new Zeus unit. 

RECALL: P&G recalling Iams, Eukanuba dry petfood brands for potential Salmonella contamination

Procter & Gamble Company is recalling a number of lots of its Iams and Eukanuba dry petfood brands because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
These recalled dry dog and cat food products were made during a 10-day window at a single manufacturing site and distributed throughout the US. P&G's routine testing found that some of the products made during this timeframe have the potential for Salmonella contamination. 
A complete list of recalled cat and dog food products, including package size, lot code, UPC code and best-by date can be viewed on the US Food and Drug Administration's website.
The company says no Salmonella-related illnesses have been associated with the recalled products. Consumers who purchased these products should stop using them and discard them. Consumers can contact P&G for a refund at +1.800.208.0172, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. 

Purina Picturing Pets Challenge highlights how pets change lives

Purina ONE and GOOD have teamed up to launch the Purina Picturing Pets Challenge, highlighting how pets inspire and change lives. The competition aims to change misleading perceptions that surround pet shelters to encourage adoption.
Through August 14, proud owners can go online and share an inspiring story that celebrates the simple, everyday things that pets do to make the world a better place. One winner will be selected to be featured on good.is and win a year's supply of Purina ONE brand petfood, as well as have a pet photo shoot with photographer Nanette Martin at a shelter. The winner will also choose one of four pet shelters to receive a US$1,500 on their behalf.  Voters will select a winner, who will be announced around October 1. 
"Every pet picture tells an important story, and every pet deserves the chance to tell their story and change someone's life. With the rising number of homeless pets worldwide, we are proud to partner with GOOD to celebrate the difference that shelter pets have made in people's lives and showcase their beauty," said Christina Schneider, assistant brand manager, Purina ONE.

Orijen, Acana petfood brand supply issues now resolved

Supply problems caused by a fire at a petfood production facility in Morinville, Canada, owned by Champion Petfoods have now been resolved.
The fire at the plant that produces the Orijen and Acana petfood brands resulted in supply issues. However, normal operations at the plant resumed nearly three weeks ago, making all products available again. The company says availability has improved even more thanks to the new facility, which offers 25 percent greater production capacity. 

United Petfood Producers acquires two new dry petfood production facilities

United Petfood Producers acquired two facilities owned by Continentale Nutrition used in manufacturing dry petfood and treats.
The company purchased the factories to strengthen its business and continue its France-based manufacturing operations. United Petfood plans to keep the current 102 employees. 

Pet Industry Federation announces first Pet Industry Forum & Awards

The Pet Industry Federation will hold its first Pet Industry Forum & Awards event on October 17-18 at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth. The event will feature companies such as Crown Petfoods, Mars Petcare, Nestlé Purina and Positive Petcare.
"We are committed to securing the future of the UK pet industry for the benefit of everyone involved.  There is so much more that pet specialists can achieve, and this Forum and the Awards are one way of ensuring the industry continues to grow," said Andy Reed, Royal Canin sales and marketing director.
Sponsors for the Pet Industry Awards include Burgess Petcare, Pedigree Wholesale, Beaphar UK, PATS and Compton Hall, along with media partner pbwnews. 

Natura launches Farmhouse Stews line of dog food

Farmhouse Stews are available in four varieties.

Natura Pet Products' Innova brand has launched a new line of Farmhouse Stews. The stews provide pet owners with a way to enhance their dogs meals, serving as a petfood topper, a treat or a complete and balanced meal for dogs. 
Each of the four recipes features two animal proteins plus farm-grown fruits and vegetables in a gravy. The food comes in a resealable, recyclable tub, with a transparent window in the package that allows consumers to see the food before purchasing it.

Farmhouse Stews are available in the following recipes:
Turkey & Duck Recipe with Lentils, Apples & Mango (grain free)
Chicken & Salmon Recipe with Sweet Potatoes, Peas & Carrots (grain free)
Chicken & Venison Recipe with Brown Rice, Peas & Papaya
Beef & Bison Recipe with Barley & Bell Peppers

Cats fed dry diets may be less willing to eat other food types, study shows

Research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that feedings cats exclusively a dry petfood diet may make them less willing to eat other types of foods. 
The study involving 18 cats examined how cats develop dietary preferences. Researchers looked at whether kittens first fed moist diets, then switched to kibble, would make an easier transition back to moist foods than kittens that were fed dry food from the beginning.
From ages 9-20 weeks, 13 cats were fed either commercial canned food, commercial raw food or homemade raw diets. Another five cats were fed only dry diets during the same age period. At the end of the post-weaning period, all 18 cats were fed a commercial dry diet from 7-23 months. As adults, the 18 cats were offered one of three moist foods: commercial canned, commercial raw or homemade raw. 
According to the study:
• Kittens fed exclusively kibble for more than a 7-month period after weaning were not interested in the moist diets, including cats fed a moist diet during the post-weaning period.
• Cats fed one of the moist diets during the post-weaning period maintained their weight better when the moist food was reintroduced if they spent less time on the dry food diet. Four of five cats (80 percent) that were fed dry food for 7 months maintained their weight once reintroduced to the moist foods, compared with two of five cats (40 percent) that maintained their weight after 17 months of eating dry food.
• Kittens fed canned foods were more accepting of both raw and canned diets than kittens fed exclusively raw diets during the post-weaning period.
The study's authors point out that this is a preliminary study and that a larger sample of cats is required to verify these findings, but believe the research supports the benefit of offering dietary variety to cats throughout their life. 

Farm-to-bowl dog food gaining popularity among pet owners, farmers

Farm-to-bowl dog food is gaining popularity among some producers and consumers of petfood looking not only for a healthy option for their pet, but also a way to help the environment by reducing waste on farms. 
Two years ago, Jake Dickson, a butcher in New York, New York, USA, began selling premium, locally sourced dog food blended with veggies from a farmers market and leftover meats from his shop. Although the food is "quite expensive," Dickson said about 100 customers per week purchase it.
"For us, it's all about 100 percent utilization of the animal," Dickson said. "If we're going to slaughter it, we want to use every part. And second, if we use every part, we're more profitable as a company."
The trend in sustainable petfood has also led some to set up subscription-based "doggie CSAs," or community-supported agriculture.
One such doggie CSA is run by Dennis Adams and his wife, who live near Columbus, Ohio, USA, and raise free-range sheep, alpaca and chickens at Cota Farms. Adams grinds up the leftover meat after it's processed and sells it as raw dog food at local farmers markets. Adams now has 50 subscribers to his CSA, and he has even recruited other ranchers and farmers in the area to sell their meat.
"This is premium, organic meat," Adams said. "Dogs are lucky to get it."
Another doggie CSA is operated by Tasha Ardalan in San Diego, California, USA. Ardalan collects the season's leftover fruits and vegetables from local farmers, who would otherwise just throw them out. "The farmers love it," she said. 
Ardalan mixes the produce with meats from local ranchers and sells the raw, organic dog food patties for about US$4 per pound to subscribers of her CSA, Foxy Treats. Ardalan says she consults with local veterinarians to formulate the recipes. "Some customers are a bit skittish about the food being raw," she said. "So I just tell them to bake it."

Party Animal Pet Food introduces grain-free coconut oil dog food

Party Animal Pet Food is launching a new dog food line made with organic coconut oil.

Party Animal Pet Food, a petfood company that produces all-natural, organic foods for dogs and cats, introduced Cocolicious at SuperZoo 2013. This new line of grain-free petfood is made with organic coconut oil along with organic and natural ingredient, available at retailers throughout the US starting in August 2013. 
Coconut oil offers health benefits to animals such as assisting in maintaining a stronger immune system and helping to promote oral health, healthy skin and a shiny coat.
"Coconut oil has gained mainstream awareness for its health benefits in humans, and it's now time for animals to benefit from this amazing, nutritious ingredient," said Daryl Abrams, founder/CEO of Party Animal. "We are thrilled to be launching a petfood line with organic coconut oil for our furry friends to love as much as we do."
The Cocolicious line will initially launch with dog food products in six flavors: Organic Chicken & Beef, Organic Turkey & Chicken, Organic Beef & Turkey, Wild Caught Salmon & Pork, Tender Pork & Lamb, and Lamb & Wild Caught Salmon. 

Hill's Pet Nutrition will not exhibit at Interzoo 2014

Hill's Pet Nutrition announced it will not exhibit at Interzoo 2014, joining a number of other pet industry companies. 
Hill's says the decision was based on increasing internationalization at Interzoo and fewer participants in the European pet product trade, making the investment on exhibiting at the show not worth the return. The company says it intends to invest in resources and budget money in target group communication for customers and consumers instead. 

Superior Farms Pet Provisions launches small breed dog treats

To serve customers of smaller dog breeds, Superior Farms Pet Provisions has added Lamb and Venison Itty Bits treats to its product line. 
The treats are a source of novel protein for small dogs as well as a training snack for larger dogs. The treats include a single source of protein making them ideal for dogs with allergies.
"It's uniquely shaped for small dogs under 15 pounds," said vice president, Eric Tiller. "We are taking our high quality lamb and venison lung product and made it bite-sized - small enough for petite breeds to enjoy."
The treats, like other products from the company, have packaging that features actual dogs of the company's employees that reflect they type of animal the products are for. 

New natural petfood line infused with extra virgin olive oil

Pyramid Pet Products has a new line of petfood that not only includes natural protein sources with added super foods, such as blueberries, kelp, sweet potatoes and probiotics, but is also infused with extra virgin olive oil.
The new brand, Tuscan Natural Pet Food Products, includes nearly a standard, full-size bottle of olive oil in a 30-pound bag, or the equivalent of a tablespoon per serving. 
Olive oil, Pyramid says, has multiple health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, improving ability to digest proteins, fighting diabetes and aiding in prevention of bone density loss.
"The idea for Tuscan Natural Pet Food Products was born out of our appreciation for olive oil and its many health benefits, so we asked ourselves why we shouldn't include it in our pet's diets as well," said Matt Boyer, president of Pyramid Pet Products. "We began researching why other petfoods don't use olive oil and found they were using cheaper polyunsaturated fats. Generally speaking, we saw companies using inferior ingredients, putting profits over the health of pets and felt that we should formulate a healthy, nutritious diet that would include only the finest ingredients."
Three varieties of the food are offered: Simply Pure, a limited ingredient diet for dogs; Harvest, with multiple protein sources and added "super foods"; and Carne, grain-free dog and cat food. 

Canidae reformulates grain-, gluten-free PURE dog, cat food formulas

Canidae Natural Pet Food Company announced it is reformulating its grain- and gluten-free PURE dog and cat food formulas. Along with reformulated foods, the company updated the petfood packaging and will launch two new grain-free treat varieties for dogs, under the PURE Heaven name, and two grain-free treat varieties for cats, under the PURE Taste name.
The new petfood recipes are made using seven to 10 key ingredients, including fresh meat or fish, and whole foods like sweet potatoes, chickpeas and peas. The reformulated foods also include Canidae's HealthPLUS Solutions, applied on the kibble after cooking to ensure live probiotic cultures that support healthy digestions, plus omega 6 and 3.
Formulas include PURE Elements made with fresh lamb for dogs and fresh chicken for cats, PURE Land for dogs made with fresh bison, PURE Sky for dogs made with fresh duck, and PURE Sea for dogs and cats made with fresh salmon. All Grain Free PURE dry dog recipes are now formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials' Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance. All Grain Free PURE dry cat recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages. 
According to Frank Hon, vice president of global sales: "We're proud to be bring this new standard in grain-free nutrition to market. Our new recipes were carefully formulated at our own research and development center, Ethos Pet Nutrition, in Brownwood, Texas. During the process, we conducted extensive studies and testing to ensure optimal transition for pets to the new formulas. The results are great taste, superior nutrition and a smooth transition leading to an overall improvement in stool quality."
New products will begin to appear on retailers' shelves in August.

MPM Products set to expand further into global petfood market

UK petfood producer MPM Products has received a new loan and trade finance package to accelerate product development and expansion in the Asia Pacific and US petfood markets.
The company already exports to 33 countries, accounting for 51 percent of orders, but the funding from HSBC's international SME fund will help the company further extend its reach. MPM's turnover of £17 million (US$26 million) in 2012 is projected to grow to £24 million (US$36.8 million).
"Wherever you see a Starbucks opening up, a market for quality petfood is not far behind," says MPM's managing director, Julian Bambridge, commenting on changes that have shaped MPM's brands. "Consumers have a greater understanding now of the importance of nutrition and that trend is translating to their pets."
According to Bambridge: "Britain's foodie revolution, concern about responsible sourcing and quality, took off a decade ago. Now that has extended to dogs and cats. Pets are considered part of the family so get the same treatment as we give ourselves.
"Because of that, even in hard-pressed times, it seems customers are still willing to put their hands in their pockets for their animals.
"We are now selling in Korea and Kuwait, places where traditionally there have been different attitudes to dog owning from in the West."
MPM also recently expanded its workforce to 50. "Being a smaller company working with partners is an advantage," Bambridge says. "Our production processes are nimble."

FDA releases two proposed rules mandated by FSMA

The US Food and Drug Administration released the Foreign Supplier Verification Program and Third-Party Certification proposed rules, as required under the Food Safety Modernization Act.
These new proposed rules include: 
Proposed Rule on Food Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals
Proposed Rule on Accreditation of Third-Party Auditors/Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits and to Issue Certifications
The rules can be viewed on FDA's website and also in the Federal Register on July 29. Information on the written rules, as well as pertinent additional information like notices, fact sheets and Q-and-A can be found. Both rules have a 120-day comment period. 

Hill's launches new cat, dog foods in reformulated Science Diet line

Hill's Pet Nutrition launched five new food varieties and eight new treat varieties for cats and dogs as part of the reformulated Hill's Science Diet line, now featuring natural ingredients.
The new petfood varieties contain a balance of essential nutrients with natural ingredients, quality protein as the first ingredient, no chicken by-product meal, and no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors. Dry food varieties include Adult Grain Free for cats, Adult Grain Free for dogs, Adult Indoor Long Coat for cats, Senior Indoor Long Coat for cats, and Senior, Small and Toy Breed Age Defying for dogs. 
Newly launched Science Diet treats are all natural, made with real chicken and beef, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, and are free of corn, artificial colors flavors and preservatives. Treats include Baked Light Biscuits, Dental Chews, Fruity Snacks and Veggie Chips. 
Additionally, Hill's launched a new brand of Ideal Balance treats for dogs and cats. Ideal Balance treats are made from quality, natural ingredients, such as chicken, tuna, lamb, duck, beef, apricots, carrots, and other fruits and vegetables. These grain-free pet treats come in Oven-Baked Naturals, Soft-Baked Naturals and Crunchy Naturals, in a variety of flavors.  

Kemin to host petfood quality, technology symposium on September 10-11

Kemin will host a symposium for the petfood industry on September 10-11 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, focusing on approaches that can be taken utilizing new technologies to improve petfood quality.
The Petfood Insights: New Approaches to Quality & Technology symposium will address challenges the industry has faced, such as in raw material sourcing and the Food Safety Modernization Act, and discuss what impact these have on manufacturers of petfood ingredients and petfood. 
Presentations topics will include:

• The financial costs of a product recall, stability issues and their effects on petfood formulation
• The importance of petfood quality to retailers 
• Innovative approaches to quality measurements 
• The relationship between palatability enhancers and petfood stability
Registration for the event is free and will open on July 26. 

Monge opens new dry petfood production facility

Monge celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 28-29 by inaugurating a new dry petfood production facility in Europe.
The event was held at the company's headquarters in Monasterolo di Savigliano, Italy. The new petfood facility will create additional jobs at the company.  

Aker BioMarine earns Marine Stewardship Council certification for krill fishery

Aker BioMarine Antarctic Australasia Pty has achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification for its sustainable practices and krill fishery infrastructure.
Aker BioMarine's krill-derived products sold in Australia are now eligible to bear the MSC eco-label, providing consumers with a guarantee of sustainability, effective fisheries management and traceability from sea to shelf. To maintain MSC Certification, Aker BioMarine undergoes annual auditing during which it must maintain certain benchmarks and conditions.
"Sustainability is central to our business operations," said Webjørn Eikrem, executive vice president, Upstream Operations, Aker BioMarine. "Our ultimate goal is to continuously meet the highest environmental standards in sustainable management while producing great krill products for our customers in Australia and worldwide."

Homemade dog food may not meet dogs’ nutrient needs, study finds

Most homemade dog food recipes do not meet all of a pet's nutritional requirements, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Researchers caution that, unlike commercial petfood, homemade petfood is not usually nutritionally complete.
The study, published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, analyzed 200 homemade dog food recipes, but found that just nine contained enough of the nutrients required by dogs. 
"Some of the deficiencies, particularly those related to choline, vitamin D, zinc and vitamin E, could result in significant health problems such as immune dysfunction, accumulation of fat in the liver and musculoskeletal abnormalities," said Jennifer Larsen, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis and lead author on the study.
Additionally, researchers found that 92 percent of the recipes contained instructions that were too vague and required pet owners to make assumptions about ingredients, or they failed to include calorie information or account for the size of the dog being fed. 
"It is extremely difficult for the average pet owner - or even veterinarians - to come up with balanced recipes to create appropriate meals that are safe for long-term use," Larsen said. "Homemade food is a great option for many pets, but we recommend that owners avoid general recipes from books and the Internet and instead consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. These specialists have advanced training in nutrition to help formulate customized and nutritionally appropriate recipes."

Research and Markets adds two new petfood market reports

Research and Markets has added two new pet market reports to its offerings.
A report entitled Global Pet Food Market 2012-2016  from TechNavio projects the global petfood market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.35 percent from 2012-16. The report covers the market for petfood in the Americas, EMEA and APA regions, including market landscape and growth prospects.  
Research and Markets also added the Pet Market Market Report 2013 to its offerings. The report's authors predict the UK pet market will grow by 12.6 percent from 2013-17, with the majority of growth seen in the pet insurance and petfood sectors.
This market report focuses on petfood, pet accessories and pet insurance in the UK. The report says petfood is the largest of the three categories of focus in the report, accounting for more than two-thirds of the market in 2012. The petfood sector's growth is attributed to rising commodity costs and premiumization linked to new product development , centered around trends in human food like organic and environmentally friendly.

Dr. Tim’s petfood brand founder vaccinates rural animals in trip to Alaska, USA

Dr. Tim Hunt, founder of Dr. Tim's Pet Food brand, traveled through rural Alaska, USA, villages to conduct spay/neuter and vaccination clinics for rural pet owners.
Funded by a grant from the US Department of Agriculture and working along with two other people, one from the Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Corporation and another from Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Health Corporation, Hunt's group traveled by motor boat through several Yup'ik villages along the Kuskokwim river in western Alaska.
The group walked the villages and was often pointed to homes that own dogs by the children in the villages. The anesthetic protocol for the animals during the procedures included the use of a mobile gas anesthetic machine, which was donated by Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.


Hunt and his team performed 40 spay and neuters and vaccinated nearly 200 dogs.

In total, Hunt and his team performed a total of 40 spays and neuters, as well as vaccinated nearly 200 dogs.
He says he hopes to increase the frequency of these rural spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. If you are interested, contact him at drtim@drtims.com or contact Angie Fitch, director of the Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Corporation, at angief@alaska.net.