ADF, Rembrandt Enterprises' egg divisions form joint venture

American Dehydrated Foods Inc. (ADF) and Rembrandt Enterprises Inc. (REI) announced the companies have reached an agreement to form a joint venture of their respective egg divisions, which are currently serving the petfood and animal feed industries. The new entity will operate as IsoNova Technologies LLC (IsoNova) and be headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, USA. 
"As a company, we have made a long-term commitment to innovation, and this opportunity is in keeping with that commitment" said Kurt Hellweg, CEO, ADF. "By combining the experience and expertise of ADF and REI, we will be able to even better serve our customers through an increased focus on the research, development and manufacture of innovative egg products for the petfood and animal feed industries."
Under terms of the agreement, all ADF associates located in Social Circle, Georgia; Verona, Missouri; Cumming, Georgia; Lillington, North Carolina; Forest, Mississippi; Texarkana, Texas; and Hanceville, Alabama, USA, along with the REI Petcare division associates located in Spencer, Iowa, USA, will become part of IsoNova Technologies on the effective date of the closing, which is January 1, 2014.
"The creation of IsoNova Technologies represents a real win for the employees, customers and communities served today by ADF and REI," said Dave Rettig, CEO, REI. "We feel that in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive industry, IsoNova will position us for long-term growth and success as we will be able to quickly and efficiently meet the needs of our customers by bringing innovative new products to market even faster than before."
At the completion of the transaction, all current ADF and REI animal and petfood egg customers will become customers of IsoNova Technologies.

Merrick Pet Care to provide petfood for pets at PAWS Chicago

Greg Shearson, CEO of Merrick, feeds dogs at PAWS Chicago.
PAWS Chicago and Merrick Pet Care are partnering to provide quality nutrition for homeless pets in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Starting December 1, Merrick Pet Care will provide petfood for the dogs and cats at the PAWS Chicago and PAWS Chicago North Shore shelters. In addition to providing food for the pets at the shelters, Merrick will also provide each adopter with a supply of dry petfood to help the pet's transition to its new home.
"PAWS Chicago is committed to ensuring the health and happiness of every pet in our adoption program," said Paula Fasseas, PAWS Chicago founder. "We are proud to provide the pets in our care with Merrick petfood during their stay and provide a foundation of health and nutrition that we hope will continue for the rest of their lives."
"PAWS Chicago has a proven record of helping pets in need and we are pleased to partner with them to feed homeless pets awaiting their forever homes," said Greg Shearson, CEO of Merrick Pet Care. "Together, we can better help pets not only survive, but thrive through feeding them more wholesome, natural and nutritious foods."

GA Pet Food Partners receives top rating from British Retail Consortium

GA Pet Food Partners received a grade "A" rating from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) for implementing best practices in its petfood manufacturing process. 
BRC audits the whole chain, from the sourcing of raw materials through to being able to trace product from the retail shelf back the origin of the ingredients.
James Lawson, GA's joint managing director responsible for nutrition and food safety, said, "Being awarded the BRC's top grade is welcome recognition for GA's hard work and commitment to producing pet food to the very highest standards of manufacturing. The BRC award is now recognized and demanded globally and this confirms to our customers around the world that they are in partnership with a high performing team at GA."

TraceGains to host FSMA webinar on December 13

TraceGains will present a webinar on December 13 at 12 p.m. EDT, entitled, "Preparing for FSMA's Animal Food/Feed Rule."
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) will make the industry subject to mandatory Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and a new preventive controls program under this new rule (section 103 of FSMA for animal food facilities that must register under section 415 of FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 350d, to establish and implement a food safety system that includes a hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls).
Under FSMA, the following would become requirements:
• A written food safety plan
• Hazard analysis
• Preventive controls for hazards that are reasonably likely to occur
• Monitoring
• Corrective actions
• Verification
• Associated records 
The webinar will feature Marc Sanchez, senior counsel and adjunct professor, who will address the new proposed rule for the petfood and animal feed industry and its most distinctive and impactful features. Register online to attend the webinar.

Data from GfK show 28 percent spike in grain-free petfood sales

In the latest evidence that natural alternatives are driving the petfood market, GfK data for the past year show a 28 percent spike in grain-free food sales at US pet stores. Through its Retail and Technology division, GfK tracks sales in more than 11,000 US pet outlets, including national and regional chains, as well as neighborhood pet shops.
Overall, US$1.7 billion was spent on grain-free pet products at pet outlets over the year from September 2012 to September 2013, and account for about one-third of all new pet items introduced each month. In the past year, the number of grain-free pet products has grown 33 percent, to more than 3,500 on shelves currently - about 2,300 for dogs versus nearly 1,200 for cats.
Dog items also account for the vast majority of grain-free sales: US$1.4 billion in the past year from September 2012-13, compared to US$322 million for cat products. Additionally, consumers pay roughly 45 percent more for grain-free products.
"We see the growth of grain-free foods - and natural pet products generally - as part of a larger trend toward humanization of pets," said Maria Lange, senior product manager of GfK's Retail and Technology team. "Consumers are clearly comfortable splurging on pets they see as valued family members, not just everyday animals. We see brands like Blue Wilderness, Natural Balance and Taste of the Wild leading the way; and we expect other outgrowths of the natural trend to emerge in the coming months."

Companies recognize importance of giving back to homeless pets

Companies outside of the pet industry are recognizing the importance of giving to homeless pets and also helping their own business, says a recent article. 
For example, Cedar Park Overhead Doors regularly sponsors special events for local animal shelters near the Cedar Park, Texas, USA, community, most recently sponsoring an annual bowl-a-thon for Texas Humane Heroes. 
According to Don Grenier, owner of Cedar Park Overhead Doors, "I am always looking for ways to give back to the community and, since my wife and I have two rescue dogs, giving back to the local animal rescue community is the perfect fit."
In Florida, USA, Subaru of Orange Park recently hosted an Adoptathon, covering all adoption fees and donating 100 pounds of food to local shelters for every car sold during the event.
In White Plains, New York, USA, the Pepe Infiniti dealership began a photo contest on its Facebook page. Mark Hersh, executive manager of the dealership, was inspired to begin the contest after seeing an amusing photo of his son holding Leo, a Labradoodle. After the overwhelming success of the contest online, he decided to host a dog rescue event in the dealership. "Six rescues from around Westchester County, New York, brought five adoptable dogs each to what was called Pepe Infiniti's Fur-Ever Home Dog Adoption event," said Hersh. "Approximately 200 guests came to the event and 12 dogs found Fur-Ever homes." The event was even so successful that a mall in the area, The Westchester, asked Hersh to reproduce the event with 12 participating rescues and more than 2,500 attendees. 

AFIA, NGFA file joint comments to FDA on animal food additives petition

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) filed joint comments on November 12 to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Recommendations for Preparation and Submission of Animal Food Additive Petitions. The comments are AFIA and NGFA's recommendation to assist FDA in providing important information in making informed decisions on the correct ingredient approval path to pursue and to assist the industry in properly submitting a Food Additive Petition (FAP) for animal feed ingredients.
"The US feed industry has a long history of providing safe ingredients and animal feed for use domestically and abroad. Ingredient review processes that function efficiently are extremely important for the industry," the groups stated in the comments.
Both AFIA and NGFA applaud FDA for providing the draft guidance document, which has been in development, with feed industry backing, for several years. 
"The American Feed Industry Association along with the National Grain and Feed Association find the draft guidance to be an overall helpful document for the industry," said Leah Wilkinson, AFIA director of ingredients, petfood and state affairs. "We drafted comments to FDA as a request for clarification in order to help make the review processes to approve new animal food ingredients function more efficiently for the industry as a whole."
In the comments, AFIA and NGFA noted FDA's lack of clarity on terms such as mixture, components and material balance and asked those terms be defined. The groups commented on FDA's request in the FAP for companies to submit an unrealistic level of manufacturing information, particularly since a manufacturing process is not a regulatory requirement when manufacturing food additives that meet existing food additive regulations and ingredient specifications. Additional guidance was also requested in areas where FDA had specific recommendations but did not provide supporting information in the FAP, including areas such as types of studies for homogeneity, stability and intended effects. 
"FDA's guidance document details specific information that should be submitted for manufacturing processes and raw data. This information is typically proprietary to individual companies," said David Fairfield, NGFA vice president of feed services. "NGFA and AFIA requested FDA clarify in the guidance document what information can be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act."
FIA and NGFA believe that due to the nature of the approval process and the investments made by a company to approve a product, a final guidance document should be issued by FDA as soon as possible. The completion of an expedited document will greatly assist the industry in the development of their submissions for FDA review. T

Canagan launches Light/Senior grain-free dog food variety

Canagan launched a Light/Senior grain-free dog food variety.

British petfood company Canagan has launched a Light/Senior variety of its grain-free dog food, specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older and overweight dogs.
The new food contains a blend of 60 percent meat or fish from both wet and dry sources, 40 percent vegetable products and beneficial botanicals. This formula contains sweet potato in place of grains, which, as a soluble fiber, is easier for dogs to digest. The food also contains compounds to help support joint health.
The Light/Senior variety dog food is available in 2kg, 6kg and 12kg bags. 

Study from FDA warns pet owners to avoid raw petfood diets

A new study from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that compared to other types of petfood tested, raw petfood was more likely to be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria. As a result, FDA is warning pet owners who feed pets a raw diet that they may be at a greater risk for infections from Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
The warning to pet owners comes after FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) screened more than 1,000 samples of petfood for foodborne illness-causing bacteria in the two-year study. 
The study involved more samplings from 196 commercial raw dog and cat food brands. CVM says it purchased a variety of raw petfood online from different manufacturers and had the products shipped directly to six laboratories for analysis. According to FDA, the raw petfood products were mostly frozen in tube-like packages and made from ground meat or sausage.
Of the samples analyzed, 15 tested positive for Salmonella and 32 tested positive for Listeria.
The study "identified a potential health risk for the pets eating the raw food, and for the owners handling the product," said Dr. Renate Reimschuessel, a researcher at CVM's Office of Research and one of the study's principal investigators.
FDA says the best way for pet owners to prevent infection is to avoid feeding pets a raw diet. More information on the study, including tips for pet owners to prevent infection from foodborne illness, is available on FDA's website.

Facebook group warning pet owners not to buy jerky treats from China

A Facebook group called Animal Parents Against Pet Treats and Food Made in China is warning pet owners about jerky treats from China that are under investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The group is attaching warnings to packages of these treats in stores that read: "Beware! FDA investigates pet treats from CHINA. Thousands of complaints filed. Hundreds of deaths reported."
As of September 24, more than 3,600 dogs and 10 cats have reportedly become ill and 580 of these died from eating jerky treats, most of which came from China, said Linda Tollefson, associate commissioner for FDA's Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine. However, FDA has been unable to isolate a contaminant so a recall for the treats has not been issued. 

AFB International launches Palatants Plus blog

AFB International launched a new blog to help petfood industry professionals stay updated on petfood industry research and developments. 
The blog, Palatants Plus, is designed to share insight into the science of palatability and how it can enhance petfood performance. Current topics include collaborative innovation, palatability testing, electronic nose (e-nose), electronic tongue (e-tongue) and flavor fatigue. New content is added regularly.

De Haan Petfood restarts production at Netherlands facility after explosion

Wet petfood manufacturer De Haan Petfood has successfully restarted production of petfood at its facility in Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands, after an explosion on May 7 caused severe damage to the production line. In recent weeks, the damaged part of the line has been rebuilt and tested, allowing production to begin.
Production was temporarily stopped at the facility following an explosion in one of the retorts, in which under-pressure cans are sterilized. Shortly after, De Haan Petfood relocated part of its production to other petfood manufacturers in the Netherlands and Europe. 

AFIA promotes Richard Sellers to senior vice president

AFIA
Richard Sellers, AFIA senior vice president.

American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) employee Richard Sellers has been promoted to senior vice president from his previous role as vice president of feed regulation and nutrition. The announcement was made at the association's October board meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
"Richard really enjoys working with and helping members," said AFIA chairman, Jeff Cannon. "He gets far and away the most member calls for advice and leadership, fulfilling one of our '4 Promises.' Richard sets the bar for member services."
Sellers has served AFIA for 22 years providing leadership on legislative and regulatory issues as well as serving as the organization's corporate secretary. He leads AFIA's feed legislative and regulatory activities with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and state feed agencies. He also serves as the staff coordinator for the Feed Regulatory Committee, Aquaculture Committee and as a technical advisor to the Nutrition Committee.
"Richard's contributions to AFIA are continuous and significant, and our organization's staff and members appreciate his enthusiasm toward the industry and the challenges it can produce," said AFIA president and CEO, Joel G. Newman. "Richard is my most trusted advisor on many issues, a team player and well deserving of the promotion to senior vice president."
Sellers holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Memphis and master's degree from the University of Arkansas in animal sciences. Previously Sellers served as a feed control official for the state of Texas. He is also a registered professional animal scientist with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS).  

PLMA 2013 Private Label Trade Show to offer pet care seminar, expanded pavilion

In 2012, the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) introduced a new Pet Care Pavilion to its Private Label Trade Show, and for the 2013 show, PLMA will expand the pavilion and offer a pet care seminar for exhibitors and retail buyers. The seminar will take place from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 17 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, adjacent to the Rosemont Convention Center near Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The seminar will feature a panel of industry experts that includes David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, Tedd Ellis of Kent Nutrition Group, and Serge Boutet of SB Nutrinnov Consultants, who managed private-label development for Mondou.
The panel will examine the wide range of factors that are driving industry growth, including a convergence of lifestyle trends - from more single men and seniors living alone; to new urban dwellers choosing smaller pet breeds and species; to young couples who choose to put off starting a family by having kids, and become "pet parents" instead. Panelists will also discuss how retailers are leveraging sophisticated marketing knowledge, product development and manufacturing expertise in the service of creating distinctive store brands that will differentiate their offerings for today's consumers. 

The Packaging Conference 2014 announces agenda, early registration

The Packaging Conference 2014 announced its preliminary agenda and opened discounted, early registration for attendees interested in seeing next-generation materials, business strategies, sustainability efforts, processing developments and more. The conference will be held February 3-5, 2014, in Orlando, Florida, USA. 
Confirmed brand-owner speakers include representatives from Kraft Foods, H.J. Heinz, and Frito-Lay, who will discuss the latest technology impacting their go-to-market strategy. Packaging suppliers who also have committed to speak on new generation developments include: Avantium Chemicals, Tricor Braun, Belvac and Hexacomb. 
Topics include biopolymers, shaped metal cans/bottle technology, sustainable packaging solutions and more. For the first time, the conference will feature a Latin American session to provide a forum for dialog between brand owners and suppliers who support the Latin American marketplace. The event will also have a strong environmental component, specifically focusing on how to use sustainable packaging to create brand loyalty and environmentally responsible, cost-effective alternatives.
Registration is US$1,950, but those registering prior to January 15, 2014, can take advantage of the discounted early registration rate of US$1,700. 

Lincoln Bark applying for small business grant by JP Morgan Chase

Dog treat company Lincoln Bark is one of hundreds of small businesses applying for a Mission Main Street grant by JP Morgan Chase. Lincoln Bark is hoping to be one of 12 businesses that is awarded a US$250,000 grant and a trip to Google for an exclusive small business workshop with Google's experts.
Consumers can support Lincoln Bark by visiting the company's Mission Main Street profile before November 15 and voting using their Facebook accounts. Once Lincoln Bark's profile reaches 250 consumer votes, the company will enter a panelist deliberation phase. Chase will announce the 12 winning businesses in January 2014. 
"Our biggest challenges are the significant financial resources and time commitments needed to compete successfully in the $50 billion pet industry. This grant will allow us to ramp up for new business and ensure our long-term growth and stability in inventory production and management, distribution, sales and marketing," says Bobbye Cochran, president and founder of Lincoln Bark. 

Private-label petfood sales rising despite other drops in spending

Sales of private-label petfoods are rising in the UK as shoppers cutting back on spending on pets in other areas, The Grocer reports.
Private-label petfood brand sales have risen 6.5 percent compared with 2.8 percent in the overall category. The growth is partially driven by a hike in featured-space deals for private labels. In 2013, through August 31, the "big four" petfood companies ran 132 such deals compared to seven the previous year. 

Arovit dry petfood facility in Denmark sold to local investors

The former Arovit dry petfood factory in Vejen, Denmark, which was owned by C & D Foods, was sold to local investors and will continue production as Arovit Dry Petfood A/S. 
Buyers include Johan Hoffmann, Hoffmann Capital A/S, acting Operations Manager Kim Madsen and CEO at Ultimate Petfood, Harry Larsen.
The previous owner, Hoffmann, started Arovit 42 years ago. Madsen, who has led the factory over the past five and a half years, will also help grow the company. Larsen, who in recent years has been developing the brand Ultimate Petfood, is also helping finance the deal. He will become sales and marketing director of the new company.

Istanbul-based wholesale company to distribute P&G petfood brands in Turkey

Istanbul-based wholesale company DBM announced that it is taking over the exclusive distribution of two P&G Pet Care brands in Turkey. As of November 1, DMB will distribute the Eukanuba and Iams petfood brands. 
"We will be much more powerful with Eukanuba and Iams in giving a totally new breath and new targets to the Turkish pet market with our consumer-based projects," said DBM managing director, Mujde Coskun.

Purina ONE, GOOD celebrate pets as everyday heroes with new contest

Purina ONE and GOOD are teaming up to celebrate the ways that pets are everyday heroes with the new "Hero Pets to the Rescue" photo and video challenge.
Now through November 11, pet owners can submit a photo or video and a true story about how their cat or dog has helped someone in need. A panel of judges will review applications and select 15 hero pets to move on as finalists for the GOOD community to vote on from December 2-9. 
The hero pet with the most votes from the GOOD community will receive a year's supply of Purina ONE brand petfood, a featured post on Good.is to share their pet's story and a US$5,000 donation made to the winner's choice of one of the following four pet service nonprofit organizations: Pet Partners, Support Dogs Inc., New Horizons Service Dogs Inc., or Working Dogs for Conservation.
"At Purina ONE, we're always striving to highlight the positive difference pets make in everyone's life," said Christina Schneider, assistant brand manager, Purina ONE. "Whether in small ways or in bigger ways, all cats and dogs are heroes to the people who love them. We look forward to seeing the inspiring stories that pet owners submit to the 'Hero Pets to the Rescue' Challenge."

Custom petfood diet company launches new affiliate program

Petbrosia.com, a designer of dry petfood diets, launched its affiliate program, offered exclusively on the affiliate marketing network Rakuten LinkShare, which provides payouts to online publishers who want to partner with Petbrosia.com. 
Petbrosia provides a customized diet for each pet, per order, based on the breed, age and weight of cats and dogs. The petfood is shipped to pet owners. 
In addition to offering up to 15 percent commission on the sales amount referred to Petbrosia.com, the affiliate program also offers to partners other performance incentives such as commission increases, cash bonuses, free content and a dedicated affiliate manager.  
Geno Prussakov's firm, AM Navigator, will manage the LinkShare-based affiliate program. 
"Here at Petbrosia we are so excited to be working with AM Navigator on getting our affiliate marketing program up and running." said Jack Farrell at Petbrosia. "We know how big of an opportunity this affiliate marketing program is and that's why we put it in the hands of Geno and his team." 

Southern Tier Pet Nutrition announces new capital partner

Siena Lending Group LLC announced the completion of a three-year US$2.45 million senior secured credit facility for Southern Tier Pet Nutrition LLC on October 17. The facility will be used to support the company's working capital and capital expenditure needs.
Southern Tier Pet Nutrition, located in Sherburne, New York, USA, is a contract manufacturer of holistic, natural and organic petfoods in the US.  The company is owned in partnership by BHC Interim Funding III, L.P. and Ohio Pet Foods Inc.
David Grende, president and CEO of Siena Lending Group, said, "We are pleased that we were able to support Southern Tier during this period of vibrant growth. We're impressed by the leadership in this business and look forward to working together to help management meet all of their future goals." 
James Golladay, chairman and president of Ohio Pet Foods, said, "We are very excited to partner with Siena on this transaction. Their flexibility and responsiveness will allow Southern Tier to make productivity increasing investments and build upon the rapid growth it has experienced this year."

Pet-Friendly House project will showcase products, services of companies involved

A new marketing opportunity involving building a pet-friendly home is showcasing the products and services of companies involved in all stages of the project in the for free.
The Pet-Friendly House project covers the design, construction and decorating of a home for a family of four and their pets. The project aims to address all possible scenarios pet owners face, such as scratched flooring, stained furniture, ruined carpets, lawn, hair and dander issues, storage solutions and more. Companies can participate in the "dog treat" category for free by donating a product that can be added to the home and a few items for giveaways.
The interactive project has step-by-step instructions showing how to add "doggie doors," containment systems, flooring, roofing and more. The house will also feature a special room customized for dogs. All aspects of building the home will be documented and shared, along with decoration ideas. Once completed, the house will be put to the test with dogs to show demonstrate the products used.
Open houses of this pet-friendly home, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada will be held for public viewing.

EXPANDED RECALL: Bailey's Choice expands chicken dog treats recall in Georgia, USA

Bailey's Choice Dog Treats LLC of Waleska, Georgia, USA, is expanding its earlier recall of select packages of chicken dog treats due to potential Salmonella contamination, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
The recall was expanded to include 5-ounce packages of the following treats: 

• 100 percent Chicken Treat treats marked with lot numbers: "Jun 2 2013," "Jun 3 2013," "Jun 15 2013," "Jul 8 2013" and "Jul 22 2013"
• 100 percent Chicken Breast Treat marked with lot number: "Jun 4 2013"
• 100 percent Teriyaki Chicken Treats marked with lot number: 132881
Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will continue checking retail stores and warehouses to make sure the recalled products have been removed from sale. To date, no illnesses have been reported.
Consumers who purchased these recalled dog treats should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact the company at +1.770.881.0526 or thomdo4570@gmail.com.

New research report on global petfood market to 2017 available

A new petfood market research report is available for companies that want to gain a comprehensive perspective on the global dog and cat food market. The report, Global Market for Dog and Cat Food to 2017 - Market Size, Growth and Forecasts in Over 70 Countries, can be purchased from MarketReportsOnline.com.
The report offers data from 2006-17 to help companies make comparisons across different countries to identify new market opportunities and make more-profitable business decisions. 
The research provides the market size, growth and forecasts at the global level as well as for the following countries: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Vietnam.

FIAAP, Victam, GRAPAS Asia 2014 to be larger than 2012 shows

With still nearly six months until the event, FIAAP Asia, Victam Asia and GRAPAS Asia 2014 are already larger than in 2012, show organizers report. Currently the shows have almost 170 exhibitors from 22 countries. 
Members of the grain and feed industry will find halls with products and services to reduce energy consumption, increase productivity and profitability, enhance products, improve safety in the workplace and in end products, and more.
At FIAAP, the feed ingredient and additive exhibition, companies will display products that enable feed formulators and nutritionists to source more cost-effective and alternative-base ingredients for their feed formulations. The latest feed processing equipment and technologies will be displayed at Victam. Exhibitors will offer solutions to problems that you may be experiencing in your feed production plant. At the GRAPAS exhibition, rice millers, flour millers and grain processors will also find a range of equipment and services. 
FIAAP Asia, Victam Asia and GRAPAS Asia 2014 will be held at the BITEC exhibition center in Bangkok, Thailand, April 8-10, 2014.
The shows will also be held co-located with Petfood Forum Asia 2014. Petfood Forum Asia 2014 will feature industry experts sharing their knowledge and insights on pet nutrition and ingredients, the Asian and global petfood markets, new product development, petfood safety and production, and much more. Petfood Forum Asia will take place April 9, 2014, also at BIEC exhibition center.  

Register for free Microbiological Diagnostics Validation webinar on November 22

The free Microbiological Diagnostics Validation webinar will be presented by Trouw Nutrition on November 22.

Register for the free webinar, Microbiological Diagnostics Validation - the information that you really need to know, which will be held Friday, November 22 at 9 a.m. CT.
This webinar will focus on the information and challenges involved with the selection and validation of microbiological diagnostic platforms for the detection of bacterial pathogens (Salmonella) in petfood ingredients, the processing environment and finished products. The food industry has demanded faster time-to-results in microbial pathogen detection. It is key for the petfood industry customer to understand how modern rapid microbiological diagnostics might perform with their unique ingredients and finished products.
What you'll learn:
1. Potential pitfalls in pathogen detection specific to the petfood industry
2. The benefits of a robust third-party method validation
3. Options for method modification and resources


The webinar will feature speaker Dr. Edward Richter, founder of Richter International.

The speaker for this webinar is Dr. Edward Richter. Dr. Richter is founder of Richter International, an independent food safety, quality, defense and research-consulting laboratory in Columbus, Ohio, USA, serving food manufacturers, including petfood, ingredient and diagnostic suppliers. The webinar will be moderated by Jessica Taylor, managing editor, Petfood Industry.
This educational webinar is brought to you by Trouw Nutrition and sponsored by Trouw Nutrition.

P&G may look to Del Monte to purchase Iams petfood division

Shareholder HighMark Capital Management Inc. said P&G, which is under pressure to revive itself, could improve sales and boost its share price by selling assets including the Iams petfood division. P&G shares are being discounted because the company is too diversified and too large, and selling assets like the pet-care business may be a "prudent move," Todd Lowenstein, a fund manager at HighMark Capital, said.
According to Exane BNP Paribas, Del Monte, a private-equity-owned company, is seeking to expand its pet products business after agreeing in October to sell its canned peaches and corn division for US$1.68 billion.
Selling the Iams division could result in as much as US$2.5 billion for P&G, said Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., while buying Iams would position Del Monte, with a 20 percent market share, ahead of Mars Inc. as the second largest to Nestle in the petfood and treats industry in North America. 
If P&G sold Iams, "the market would reward management with a higher multiple, a higher valuation because they are getting focused,"  said Lowenstein, whose firm oversees about US$19 billion including P&G shares. Iams is "non-core to their future strategic initiatives. They could probably exact a pretty decent price from someone who has a lot of synergy value in combining those businesses."
Ali Dibadj, a New York, USA-based analyst at Bernstein, said the Iams division could be worth about US$2.5 billion in a sale, while Ferry of Exane BNP Paribas estimated it could be valued closer to US$3 billion.
Paul Fox, a spokesman for P&G, said the company "will continue to focus our portfolio, allocating resources to businesses where we can create value and continuing to exit those where we cannot." He said the company does not comment on speculation when asked whether it would be open to selling the pet-care unit. 
Chrissy Trampedach, a spokeswoman for Del Monte Foods, said the company does not comment on specific merger and acquisition plans. 

Pet jerky treats not necessarily cause for alarm, veterinary pathobiology professor says

On October 22, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an update on its investigation into pet illnesses associated with pet jerky treats from China, along with a request to veterinarians for their assistance in identifying pets that were potentially sickened as a result of consuming the tainted pet treats. Tim Evans, an associate professor of veterinary pathobiology at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a veterinary toxicologist, says that while pet owners should be aware of this issue and watchful for signs of illness in pets that have been consuming these treats on a regular basis, it is not a cause for alarm for the majority of dogs and cats.
According to Evans: "While the loss of any pet is tragic, only a very small percentage of pets has been affected by this strange illness during the past six years.
"If pet owners have been feeding their dogs or cats jerky treats containing chicken, duck, sweet potatoes and/or dried fruits, I would recommend they stop feeding the animals the treats immediately and monitor their pets' health. While there may not be a cause for immediate alarm, owners of small-breed dogs that have consumed these treats on a regular basis, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, might want to have their pet examined by their regular veterinarian and have some laboratory testing performed. If an owner's pet should begin to show signs of illness, such as decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or increased water consumption and urination, owners should immediately bring their pets in for evaluation by a veterinarian, because the sooner this illness is detected, the better the chances that it can be treated effectively."
Evans says the primary illness stemming from these tainted treats involves kidney disease and failure if the illness progresses without treatment. Evans believes that while this issue has been occurring since 2007, it does not mean FDA has been negligent.
"The FDA and scientists around the country have been working on this problem tirelessly for many years, but it has been a very difficult process because no obvious ingredients in the jerky treats have been found to cause this illness," Evans said. "Hopefully with this latest call for help from veterinarians nationwide, the FDA will collect enough information soon to determine why this illness is occurring."
Because jerky treats are not a part of an essential diet for any pet, Evans recommends that pet owners refrain from feeding them to their pets if they are concerned about this illness. He also recommends regular annual checkups for pets, including baseline blood work as the animals get older. He says this will help veterinarians catch any potential health issues before they escalate into more serious problems.

FDA issues proposed preventative control rules for petfood, animal feed

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 25 issued the proposed rule on Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act. The regulations would apply to all domestic and imported animal feed, including petfood and treats, and the raw ingredients in those products.
"We have been pushing feed safety for a number of years," said Daniel McChesney, director of the office of surveillance and compliance at the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. "It's not, 'Oh, we're just making food for animals.' They're the first part of the food chain. We're a part of the overall food industry."
The challenge for companies that produce animal foods and pet products will be in meeting the deadlines for compliance, McChesney said. Times will vary according to the size of an operation, with small and very small businesses being allowed more leeway.
The new rules will be published in the Federal Register on October 29. They will be open for public comment for 120 days and would be adopted as law within 60 days after the comment period closes. FDA will hold three public meetings in November and December to seek input on the proposed rule.
In response to FDA's regulations, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) issued the following joint statements:
According to Richard Sellers, AFIA vice president of feed regulation and nutrition: "We are pleased to see these rules are now available for public comment. These rules will have a major impact on our members. We will begin implementing our plan to analyze the preventive control rules jointly with the Foreign Supplier Verification and the Accreditation of Third Party Auditors rules already released. We have asked the agency to extend the deadline for comments to match the preventive control rules deadline."
"Publishing the proposed preventive control rule for animal feed and pet food is another important step in FDA's ongoing implementation of FSMA," said David Fairfield, NGFA vice president of feed services. "We intend to work closely with AFIA, Pet Food Institute and other industry partners in developing comments on the proposed provisions to help ensure the requirements are achievable and facilitate the continued manufacture and distribution of safe animal feed and petfood."
AFIA and NGFA said they both will submit extensive public comments on the proposed rule.
"AFIA has been very active for five years in FSMA legislation," said AFIA President and CEO Joel G. Newman. "FSMA represents the most significant reform to feed regulation in several decades. It will help ensure the continuation of the highest standards of safety throughout the entire food system. AFIA will be working with FDA, feed industry partners and our members over the coming months and years to guarantee a smooth implementation of FSMA."
NGFA also was active in working with Congress in drafting the FSMA law, noted NGFA President Randy Gordon, and has formed several industry working groups to develop comments on the preventive control proposed rules for human food and animal feed.
"The industry has developed effective product safety programs that are tailored to the operations of individual facilities," Gordon said.  "It will be vitally important that FDA's regulations provide the flexibility necessary for companies to continue to effectively address feed safety, as well as provide the necessary education and training of its inspectors and the regulated industry.  All indications are that the agency shares those views, and we'll be eager to work with FDA in implementing this truly fundamental change in its approach to food and feed safety."    

Petco Foundation, Halo petfood brand to award grants to animal-welfare organizations

The Petco Foundation and Ellen DeGeneres' petfood company Halo, Purely for Pets are launching a new grant campaign for the holidays to benefit nonprofit animal-welfare organizations in the US. 
The Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes Grant Campaign encourages all animal-welfare organizations to apply by submitting their best animal success stories for the chance to win a grant of up to US$100,000. All entries, including stories, photos and videos, must be submitted by November 22.
The grand-prize winner will be announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December. Second- and third-place winners will earn grants of US$50,000 and US$25,000, respectively, and grants from US$5,000 to US$10,000 will go to 10 runner-up organizations.
"Halo and the Petco Foundation are teaming up together. We want to help all of the pet shelters that help animals and do good every year. The Petco Foundation wants to award deserving animal shelters," said talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
"We're thrilled to partner with Ellen and Halo on this exciting campaign to recognize and support the groups and individuals who work tirelessly all year long to care for and find homes for animals in need," said Petco Foundation executive director, Susanne Kogut. "By sharing some of their stories through this campaign, we hope to raise awareness and increase the number of animals spending this holiday season where they belong - in loving homes with the care and support they deserve."  

PetSmart, National Geographic team up for new pet products line

National Geographic and PetSmart announced in October a partnership for a line of new products set to launch in spring 2014 to be sold in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The National Geographic-branded products will initially focus on pets such as fish, reptiles, birds and small animals, and it will include petfood, habitats and accessories.
National Geographic's net proceeds will go toward supporting the conservation of animals and their habitats. National Geographic will also provide educational content for pet parents, including information on pet diets, habitats and natural behaviors. The products will be simple to use and complementary to pets' natural environments.
"Pets play an important role in inspiring people to learn about animals and their natural environments," said Terry Garcia, executive vice president of National Geographic Mission Programs and president of Licensing. "Through this partnership, National Geographic will combine its extensive research with PetSmart's deep commitment to pets and offer products that create fun, educational experiences for people and families who love pets."
"National Geographic's trusted reputation will enhance our customers' experiences with fish, reptiles, small animals and birds in a new and authentic way," said PetSmart CEO David Lenhardt. "Whether it's a habitat designed for better viewing or access to research about the animals' lives in the wild, we hope to bring our pet parents new information and closer relationships with their pets."

RECALL: Bailey's Choice Dog Treats issues recall of chicken treats for possible Salmonella contamination

Bailey's Choice Dog Treats LLC of Waleska, Georgia, USA, is recalling packages of dog treats due to possible Salmonella contamination, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. 
The company is recalling packages of chicken treats in various size packages marked with lot number #132881 and expiration date February 2014, as well as 5-ounce bags of chicken jerky treats with a lot number of "Jun 5 2013."
Inspectors from the Georgia Department of Agriculture are in the process of checking retail stores and warehouses to ensure the recalled products have been removed from sale. No illnesses have been reported, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Consumers who purchased the treats should discard them and contact the company for a full refund at +1.770.881.0526 or email thomdo4570@gmail.com.

Natures Menu marks processing 1 million orders for petfood

Petfood maker Natures Menu recently achieved a milestone in the company's history with the processing of 1 million orders.
The natural petfood manufacturer began as a small family business in 1981 that produced food for local dog kennels, but it has grown to do business throughout Europe.
Craig Taylor, an original family member who has been with the company since it started, said: "I am delighted that Natures Menu has reached such a landmark and am proud to still be serving the UK's finest pet stores after 33 years."
According to the one millionth customer, Brenda Holmes, who runs Dis-Cover Pets Corner pet store: "There is so much real meat in the Natures Menu products - we are always telling customers that's what makes a pet so healthy. The treats are the only thing that brings my cats into the house when I call them.''