Petfood Forum 2011 preview

Dr. Tim Hunt, who has mushed in and served as a veterinarian for the Iditarod, will give the opening keynote for Petfood Forum 2011.

To stay ahead of the competition and grow your business, you need to arm yourself with knowledge and key contacts. There’s no better way to increase both than by attending Petfood Forum 2011 and Petfood Workshop: Safety First.
Petfood Forum, scheduled for April 11-13, is expanding this year with a new, larger venue—the Renaissance Schaumburg (about 10 miles west of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport)—and three content tracks: nutrition, marketing/packaging/regulatory and safety/processing. Experts from the petfood, veterinary, retail and marketing industries will share their insights and tips to help you improve your job and business performance.
Walmart's VP of food safety, Frank Yiannis, will be the closing keynote speaker—a new session this year. Timothy A. Hunt, DVM, kicks off the conference with the opening keynote about his experiences and lessons from mushing in and serving as a veterinarian for the Iditarod.
Find the full list of speakers and their topics here (click on the Speakers & Topics tab). Click on the Schedule tab to see when the conference sessions, as well as meals and receptions, are scheduled.
You’ll also enjoy as many networking opportunities as ever with new and familiar industry peers as well as leading suppliers in the new exhibit hall—now part of a full convention center. (For more information on exhibiting and registered exhibitors, click here, then on the Exhibitors tab.)
Petfood Workshop: Safety First follows on April 13-14, also at the Renaissance Schaumburg. This interactive, hands-on seminar will help you understand and prepare for the new US food safety regulations by bringing you face-to-face with experts on:

• Best practices from the human food world on dealing with the new food safety law;
• Navigating the quickly changing regulatory landscape;
• How to prepare for—and survive—an FDA inspection;
• Creating and improving a HACCP program;
• Testing and controlling for toxins and pathogens; and
• An “ask the experts” panel so you can get all your safety questions answered.

The full line-up of speakers and schedule for Petfood Workshop are available here.

Register online! 
Register by February 15 to save up to 15%. If you register for both Petfood Forum and Petfood Workshop, you'll save even more. (To register by email or mail, download a registration form here.)

Hotel and travel information 
Please make your hotel reservations directly with the Renaissance Schaumburg. Click here or call +1.800.468.3571. Be sure to mention you're with Petfood Forum or Petfood Workshop (or Watt) to receive a special room rate. Don't delay; rooms are going fast!
For transportation to and from Chicago's airports, Petfood Forum/Workshop 2011 has arranged discounts or special pricing with specific transportation companies. For further information, please visit here and click on the Hotel & Travel tab, email   OutreachRegistration@niu.edu   or call +1.815.753.7922. We recommend that you make your transportation arrangements before you arrive in Chicago. 

Texas A&M hosts course on feeds and petfood extrusion

A Practical Short Course on Feeds & Pet Food Extrusion will be presented Jan. 30 through Feb. 4, 2011 at Texas A&M University.
The program will cover information on designing new feed mills, and selecting conveying, drying, grinding, conditioning and feed mixing equipment. Texas A&M staff, industry representatives and consultants will review current practices for processes like petfood production; extrusion of floating, sinking and high fat feeds; spraying and coating fats, digests and preservatives; use of encapsulated ingredients and preparation of premixes. Practical demonstrations of petfood, vacuum coating and more will be given on four major types of extruders using various shaping dies.
Reservations for the event are accepted on a first-come basis. For more information, programs and application forms contact Dr. Mian N. Riaz by phone at +1.979.845.2774 or by E-mail at mnriaz@tamu.edu.

Top 5 consumer picks - pet food industry books

We all have to balance our information sources to get a realistic picture. Books, studies, reports, scientific journals, colleagues, seminars, and industry events can all have a part in forming our final opinion on any given topic.

Unfortunately, humans are inclined to believe what they want to believe and the more it shocks our senses, the better. It's easy for consumers to believe that big industry is greedy and cold. Pet parents are no exception, and their mistrust is fueled by the endless pet food recalls.

For Pet Parents

What pet parents need to keep in mind is that book, magazine, newspaper, and online publishing is also an industry. The more shocking the information, the more the publication sells, especially if it feeds the fear and uncertainty that pet parents feel today. Consumers need balance in their information sources.

When books are published about any industry, consumers feel they can rely on the information contained therein. They'll also trust a quote from a book when they find it online in a blog, forum, etc. While there are some very good books and websites out there, there are also some that use shock, suggestion, and general paranoia to make the sale. My advice to pet parents is always to keep reading and verify the information - don't read one book or website and take it as gospel. If nothing else, the information may be outdated.

Be it in a book or online, consumers must watch for signs of fear mongering, such as constant attempts to nurture suspicion even when the facts suggest otherwise. You may also notice that they'll take the word of a Vet, the FDA, etc., at face value if it happens to support a point they're trying to make, but will otherwise ridicule and question them at every turn. Reading the information will leave you with the nagging fear that nobody in the corporate, medical, or regulatory world can be trusted except of course, the author. These people are exploiting your love for your pet as surely as any other industry could, and they're profiting from it too.

That said, there certainly is accurate information that pet parents are reading as well.

For the Pet Food Industry

The industry has to read what pet parents are reading so they can prepare for, and address, their concerns. We have to provide as many sources of information as we can, and familiarize ourselves with the issues so we can accurately explain our position. There is often more than meets the eye and your average, reasonable pet parent understands that, but they need proof.

It's important for the industry to address these book-based concerns in their content and marketing. If a book suggests that many pet foods contain dead pets and your rendering plant doesn't include them, for example, you want the pet parent to find that information when they visit your website. If there are independent studies or other sources of sound information to back your claims that something is harmless when the books say it isn't, you'll want to provide those sources of information. We also need to educate our customer support staff, so they can address consumer concerns and refer pet parents to reliable sources of information.

There are advantages outside of damage control that we can gain as well. There are many concerns raised in these books that you may have already addressed, such as preservatives, which presents marketing opportunities. Being aware of consumer concerns may also lead to a more acceptable procedure or formulation, or even new products. Being in the know gives you a competitive advantage. Don't be surprised if you learn a thing or two, especially if you outsource.

Through sales rankings, visiting pet communities, reading blogs, etc. I have determined which books are most commonly read and quoted. I strongly suggest that you circulate these books around your company. Use them in your training sessions. Quote them in your sales meetings. Have your writers, researchers, product developers, and the entire marketing department use them as a guide.

Most importantly, emphasize openness and honesty every step of the way. As I've said many times, if you have to lie about any facet of your product, then it's time to change that facet.

Top Five Books About the Pet Food Industry:

Food Pets Die For
Ann N. Martin

Protect Your Pet
Ann N. Martin

The Ultimate Pet Food Guide
Liz Palika

Pet Food Politics
Marion Nestle

Not Fit for a Dog
Michael W. Fox, Elizabeth Hodgkins & Marion E. Smart

Read 'em but don't weep - take action.

Virtual PFF, Petfood Industry and Petfood-Connection.com all on Facebook

Although the internet provides easy access to more up-to-date, global information than ever before, it can often be a lengthy process of logins and passwords, multiple tabs and windows on your task bar, and link after confusing link. That's why we've made Facebook a one-stop-shop for everything petfood, so you can get the information and news you need without the hassle. 

Check out our event page for Virtual Petfood Forum and RSVP, while checking out our promotional video and posting a comment on our wall. Then, head over to our brand new Petfood Industry page, become a fan and get caught up with the industry with our daily updates from blogs, articles, videos and podcasts. Finally, go to our Petfood-Connection.com fan page and join a discussion, post an opinion on a blog thread or start a group.

Iditarod veterinarian to keynote Petfood Forum 2011

Learn about the thrill of the Iditarod from Timothy A. Hunt, DVM, during Petfood Forum on April 12, 2011. Dr. Hunt has not only worked the legendary race as a veterinarian but has run it himself. Dr. Hunt operates a small-animal veterinary practice in Marquette, Michigan, and is an avid musher who has competed in numerous events throughout North America and Europe. In 2005, he launched his own line of dog food—Dr. Tim’s Pet Food—due of the lack of high-quality feeds on the market for the hard-working Alaskan Husky and has since introduced additional formulations.
Petfood Forum 2011 will take place April 11-13 at a new venue, the Renaissance Schaumburg (about 10 miles from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport). It will be followed April 13-14 by Petfood Workshop: Safety First.
Registration for both events is now available with savings of 15%
If you register by February 15 and an additional discount off Petfood Workshop registration if you also register for Petfood Forum.

9Lives finds cats not getting proper nutrition

A survey commissioned by 9Lives of US cat owners found that 94% are confident they feed their cats the most nutritious meals possible. However, 48% admit they’ve fed their cat table scraps, which do not provide the essential nutrients cats need.
In order to help owners be aware of the nutrition cats need, 9Lives is offering its online Nutrition Simulator, which provides nutritional advice and information on selecting the proper peffood for a cat.

AFIA petfood conference largest in event history

The American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) Pet Food Committee and USPOULTRY's Poultry Protein & Fat Council organized and sponsored the Pet Food Conference during the 2010 International Feed Expo.
The two-day Pet Food Conference, the largest in the event's history, included speakers such as Dr. Dan McChesney of the US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Frank Jones of the University of Arkansas. Both addressed topics related to controlling Salmonella in the production of petfood.

Package testing webinars now in multiple languages

Mocon Inc. is making its free educational webinars on package testing accessible to a larger global audience by offering online classes in Spanish, Chinese and English.
The company is also unveiling its International Series, which has been designed to provide information to packaging professionals in multiple countries.

Ingredient Issues: Call to action 2010

Five small steps would streamline information on petfood ingredients to help communicate with pet owners. Read the full article in Petfood Industry.

Registration open for petfood safety symposium

Registration is still open for Kemin’s Food Safety in Petfoods and Petfood Ingredients, to be held Oct. 6-7 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
The different sessions at the symposium will cover regulatory issues, quality and testing and manufacturing techniques.
For more information, visit www.kemin.com.

PFI annual meeting schedule announced

Pet Food Institute’s (PFI) Annual Industry Meeting will be held October 13-15 in Washington DC, USA.
The first day’s petfood program will be held at the PFI office. For the next two days, the meeting’s venue will be the Omni Shoreham hotel.
Registration can be done on the PFI site.

Pet Food Conference in January 2010

The third annual Pet Food Conference organized by the American Feed Industry Association will be held January 26-27, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center.
The conference will focus on industry issues like petfood markets, salmonella control, state and federal inspections and ingredient approval.
Pre-registration for the conference is $35 or $60 at the door. More information and a registration link can be found at www.petfoodconference.com/2010PFC/index.cfm.

Australia withdraws irradiation option for petfood treatment

Australia will not allow importers to irradiate imported cat food to reduce microbial hazards, according to a news report. The decision follows reports of possible links between irradiated food and neurological damage.
Though studies have found food irradiation safe, it can reduce vitamin content. In November 2008, University of Sydney’s Dr. Georgina Child reportedly found an association between irradiated cat food and neurological damage in cats, according to Sydney Morning Herald.
In June, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service stated it would withdraw the irradiation option for imported cat food but not imported dog food.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved irradiation for several types of food, including petfood, but the process is not widespread in the US.

Speakers, topics announced for Virtual Petfood Forum

The all-new, first-ever Virtual Petfood Forum: Target on Nutrition is a live educational event held entirely on the Internet. Scheduled for October 28, it features the industry's leading experts presenting information on companion animal nutrition, then participating in live question-and-answer sessions with attendees.
Speakers and topics include:
*Exotic ingredients in petfoods—Greg Aldrich, PhD
*Dietary components in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis—Anton Beynen, PhD, head of R&D for Vobra Special Petfoods in the Netherlands and professor of animal nutrition, Rajamangala University of Technology, Thailand
*Communicating with pet owners about petfoods and unconventional diets—Kathryn E. Michel, DVM, MS, DACVN, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
*The science behind grain-free and raw diets for cats—Brittany Vester Boler, PhD, University of Illinois
*When more petfood doesn’t equal success—Sean Delaney, DVM, MS, DACVN, Natura Pet Products Inc.
Virtual Petfood Forum also allows you to interact live with your industry peers and with world-class solution providers and suppliers to the global petfood manufacturing industry. Registration is free; find out more and register today.
(If you can't participate live on October 28, you can still view the archive for 90 days afterward as long as you're registered.)

ASA challenges MPM leading brand claim

MPM Products has been cited by the Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom) for an advertisement pitting its Applaws cat food brand against Town & Country's HiLife, according to a news report.
Town & Country challenged MPM’s charges and asked MPM to prove its claims of Applaws being the leading brand in most UK pet stores.
In its defense, MPM provided data showing sales of Applaws from May 2008 to April 2009 and sales growth in 2008 were greater than the combined sales of three other cat food brands including HiLife, in the second and third leading specialist pet stores in the country.
ASA has rejected the ad, saying the data could not substantiate MPM's "leading brand" claims.

Bravo! and Nature’s Variety add new seminars

After the success of “Bottom Line Raw” educational summit for retailers on raw diet product lines, Bravo! and Nature’s Variety have added two sessions to their 2009 calendar. The first will be a part of the Super Zoo University curriculum in Las Vegas on Sept. 15-17 and the second will be held during the H.H. Backer 43rd Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference, Oct. 2-4 in Chicago.
The program features segments led by representatives from Bravo! and Nature’s Variety and information on profitably selling raw diet products.
Companies can register for the seminars at seminar@bravorawdiet.com, but seating is limited.

PFI to hold China export training program

The Petfood Institute is holding a special training session for its members and others from the U.S. pet food industry on China’s facility certification and product registration requirements on July 30 in Washington. The training program coincides with the Association of American Feed Control Officials annual meeting.
For U.S. companies to export pet food to China, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services must certify to China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine that the manufacturing facility meets specific requirements and the products must be registered with China's Ministry of Agriculture. At the training program, a representative from AQSIQ will provide an overview of the agency's requirements.

Pet supplements found to be less than promised

The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) found that 24 of the 87 brands it tested recently did not contain what was claimed, said council president, William Bookout, in an article from The Associated Press.
The NASC did not specify which brands, but instead used the results to help improve quality control.
"Sometimes a company doesn't even realize they have a problem, or a company can make an honest mistake," Bookout said.

Registration available for Virtual Petfood Forum

The all-new Virtual Petfood Forum: Target on Nutrition is a live educational event held entirely on the Internet. Scheduled for October 28, it features the industry's leading experts presenting information on companion animal nutrition, then participating in live question-and-answer sessions with attendees.

Speakers and topics include:
*When more petfood doesn’t equal success—Sean Delaney, DVM, MS, DACVN, Natura Pet Products Inc.
*The science behind grain-free and raw diets for cats—Brittany Vester Boler, PhD, University of Illinois
*Exotic ingredients in petfoods—Greg Aldrich, PhD
*Dietary components in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis—Anton Beynen, PhD, head of R&D for Vobra Special Petfoods in the Netherlands and pprofessor of animal nutrition, Rajamangala University of Technology, Thailand

Virtual Petfood Forum also allows you to interact live with your industry peers and with world-class solution providers and suppliers to the global petfood manufacturing industry. Registration is free; find out more and register today. (If you can't participate live on October 28, you can still view the archive for 90 days afterward as long as you're registered.)

Hill's announces nutrition challenge winner

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. named intern Jessica Markovich, D.V.M., of Arizona's VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center, as winner of the 2008-2009 Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition Case Challenge.
Her submission, An Evidence-Based Review of Taurine Responsive Cardiomyopathy in a Newfoundland, outlined the case of an adult female Newfoundland with congestive heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite the dog being on a normal dietary regimen, Markovich found the Newfoundland had a taurine deficiency requiring supplementation.
Markovich conducted an evidence-based review of the current research regarding taurine-responsive cardiomyopathy, with the conclusion that nutritional modification of canine cardiac disease may be underutilized.
Markovic’s received registration, travel and lodging to the 2009 ACVIM Forum in Montreal, Canada, as her prize for winning the competition.