Jonker Petfood offers new petfood using insects as protein source

Jonker Petfood BV, a private label petfood manufacturer based in the Netherlands, is offering a new dog food with insects as the only animal source of protein, the company says.

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The new product, launched at Interzoo 2014, has a "base of 100% insect protein," Jonker says. The types of insect making up the protein are not named; the company also did not say if the dog food is immediately available.
Other ingredients in the dog food include "puffed" corn, "unlocked" rice, oats, sorghum, eggs and egg derivatives, vitamins and minerals.
The new dog food is one of a very few insect-based petfood products on the market. Insects are being studied as a possible protein source for both human foods and petfood as the demand for protein rises along with the populations of both people and pets.

Honest Kitchen founder taste tests petfood ingredients, final product

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Lucy Postins, founder of the The Honest Kitchen, taste tests the ingredients in her company's dog food.

Lucy Postins, founder of The Honest Kitchen petfood company, was recently featured in an article for not only sampling each ingredient that goes into the food, but also sampling the final product. 
Postins says she tests each of the petfood recipes for food for flavor, aroma and color. All her recipes are made in a a human food facility, rather than a petfood plant, and the ingredients are sourced from the human food chain, allowing the company to achieve a "human grade" rating from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The dog food she produces includes ingredients like free-range chicken, ranch-raised beef, sweet potatoes, eggs, bananas and dandelion greens. The ingredients are blended together, then the recipe is mixed with water by the consumer. 
According to Postins: "There are a lot of people who think their pets are inferior and don't deserve quality food. But so many people are becoming educated on conventional petfood ingredients and production that they want to make a move away from that.
"By actually tasting the food ourselves I think it's a sound way of walking our own talk and helping to assure people we actually mean what we say about product integrity and quality. Some of my friends think it's an odd thing to do, but most of them have pets they love as much as - or in some cases maybe even more than - their own children so can see where I'm coming from.
"A recent 2013 survey showed 74 percent of customers saw an improvement in the well-being and energy levels of their pets from eating the products. And 70 percent saw an improvement in their pet's skin and coat while 60 percent noticed an improvement in their pets' weight. The proof really is in the pudding and our foods are good enough to eat."

Pet owners confused on pet nutrition, pet food labeling, petMD finds

A recent petMD survey about pet nutrition found that pet owners are confused about the nutritional needs of their dogs and cats. Although 57 percent of pet owners surveyed said they look at petfood labels for information about the petfood's ingredients, the survey found pet owners often misinterpret the information on the labels.
"Understanding how to feed our pets properly is critical to their well-being," said petMD spokewoman, Dr. Jennifer Coates. "This knowledge gap is worrisome but also represents an opportunity for improving the health and longevity of our beloved companion animals."
The survey's findings include:

• Misunderstood terms: The majority of respondents said they thought animal hair, teeth and hooves are included in meat byproducts; however, the Association of American Feed Control Officials prohibits these parts from being included in a byproduct used in pet food.
• Feeding trial importance: A majority of respondents said they look at the pet food label to learn about ingredients, yet only 22 percent of pet owners check the label to see if a feeding trial has been conducted with the food. Pet foods approved by AAFCO must have a statement indicating how the pet food manufacturer determined the diet would meet pets' nutritional needs, which can be done either by a computer program or test feeding the food to pets.
• Misidentifying potential allergies: More than 40 percent of respondents cited grain ingredients as the most common allergens in pet food. Although more than 30 percent noted corn as the most common allergen, some studies have shown that protein or meat source may have a greater effect.
• Unaware of balanced nutrition: Protein was cited by 69 percent of respondents as a key nutrient for pets, but just 2 percent were aware of the need for fats, 3 percent of carbohydrates, and fewer than 25 percent were aware of the need for vitamins and minerals.
• Skepticism of label accuracy: AAFCO regulations mandate that every ingredient in a pet food must be listed in the ingredients list from the largest to smallest amount by weight, though still more than 70 percent of respondents said they believe pet food labels do not list all of the ingredients.
"Misconceptions surrounding pet food and canine and feline nutrition can lead owners to make ill-informed choices about what to feed their companions," Coates said. "Veterinarians are the best source of information about what to feed pets. They can take into consideration a pet's unique combination of life stage, lifestyle and health to make individualized diet recommendations."

New at-home saliva pet food allergy test for dogs released

A new type of test has recently hit the market allowing pet owners to test for their dogs' pet food allergies with just a saliva sample, according to a report.
Although testing for other potential non-food-related allergens must still be done by a veterinarian, Nutriscan has developed a saliva test that can identify 20 of the most common food allergies in dogs.
Dog allergy testing has usually been conducted by a veterinarian taking skin samples of the dog and prescribing a pet food diet free of those ingredients that could be potentially causing the allergies. But with Nutriscan's test, pet owners collect the saliva sample from their dog and return it back to the company to receive results about two weeks later. The test means pet owners no longer have to put their pet on a special prescription diet as a trial and can test for all potential food allergies at one time. 

Raw petfood company adds yak, llama to petfood line

TheDogMaOnline LLC expanded its raw pet food department with the addition of yak and llama as new petfood options, targeted at pets with allergies.

According to the company, Yak and Llama are exotic proteins that are not used in prepared raw food diets currently, so the new food may be a good option for pets with allergies. The company currently offers beaver as another option, and says it will be adding kangaroo to its raw petfood line soon.
“We see customer pets everyday suffering from allergies,” said Valerie Marshall, president of TheDogMaOnline LLC. “Our mission is to seek out hypo-allergenic options for our clients that have been battling petfood allergies for years.”

New ISO standard on traceability of fish products to improve food safety

A new ISO standard on the traceability of finfish products, ingredients often used in dog and cat food formulas, is expected to improve food safety by supplying stakeholders throughout the supply chain with accurate information about the origin and nature of these products.

The new standard, ISO 12875:2011, Traceability of finfish products - Specification on the information to be recorded in captured finfish distribution chains, specifies the information to be recorded in marine-captured finfish supply chains in order to establish traceability. The new standard specifies how traded fishery products are to be identified, and the information to be generated and held on those products by each of the food businesses that physically trade the products through the distribution chains.

PetFoodia.com provides pet food reviews for consumers

PetFoodia.com is a new website that provides reviews of dog food and cat food as well as dog food and cat food coupons. 

The website's pet food reviews come from pet owners and are updated regularly. Additionally, the site answers questions pet owners may have regarding foods that their pets can or cannot eat and pet health, as well as provides questions to ask a veterinarian and coupons for pet food.

Hill's Pet, PetMD offer online dog food nutrition tool

PetMD and Hill's Pet Nutrition launched "MyBowl for dogs,” an interactive nutrition tool to help pet owners understand the nutritional needs of their dog.

MyBowl for dogs helps consumers to understand what makes up a balanced meal for dogs and helps them understand the dog food label to ensure their pet's food has the proper balance of nutrition.  

The tool is available at www.petmd.com/mybowl.

Study finds maize gluten feed may be beneficial dog food ingredient

A Brazilian scientist conducted a study using two different techniques to measure digestibility and metabolizable energy of maize gluten feed as an ingredient in pet food for dogs.

MGF, a co-product of wet milling of maize, is composed of the structures left after most starch, gluten and germ has been extracted from the grain. Two different techniques were used to asses the digestibility and energy values of MGF, though both studies used extruded diets fed to Beagle dogs with six replicates per diet.
In the first study, a difference method was used to replace 300 g/kg of a reference diet with MGF. Based on the difference method, the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of MGF was 0.53 for dry matter, 0.69 for crude protein, 0.74 for fat, 0.99 for starch and 0.55 for gross energy. As fed in the study, the calculated metabolizable energy of MGF was 7.99 MJ/kg.
A regression method was used for the second study, which used a regular basal diet and a basal diet with 70, 140 and 210 g MGF/kg of diet as a substitute for maize starch. The inclusion of MGF in this diet resulted in a linear reduction of the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of 0.99 for dry matter, 0.95 for crude protein, 0.87 for fat, 0.81 for starch and 0.99 for gross energy. Faecal production increased linearly from 56 g to 107 g per dog per day, faecal dry matter showed a linear reduction and faecal lactic acid concentrations increased linearly. Both urine and faeces also showed a linear reduction in pH levels.
Results of the ingredient coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility obtained by each of the two different methods showed a 6% or less variance for crude protein, fat, starch and metabolizable energy content, but the two methods produced different results for the calculated coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter and organic matter. The low digestibility of MGF may be explained by its high dietary fiber content, according to the study. The study concluded that MGF may be a useful ingredient in dog food formulations designed to have low energy or reduce urine pH levels of dogs.

Healthy petfood, DAP diffuser may control stress in dogs

Many commercial petfoods do not take into consideration the nutritional requirements of dogs, which may cause stress and unruly behavior, leaving dog owners in-need of other effective solutions for controlling their dog.
One petfood that may reduce stress is Burns dog food. The food, according to the company, contains hypoallergenic ingredients to prevent digestive disorder along with minerals to strengthen the dog's immunity.
Aside from healthy meals, dogs may require other solutions for managing behavior, such as a Dog Appeasing Pheromone diffuser with DAP refill. When plugged into an electrical outlet, the diffuser releases a calming chemical called pheromone to reduce stress in dogs, according to Burns. DAP diffuser may last for four weeks, but the vial containing the pheromone substance can be replaced with a DAP refill.

Animal advocate pledges to eat dog food until Nitro's Law is reintroduced in Ohio House

Animal advocate, dog trainer and author Nikki Moustaki has promised to eat dog food for one meal every day in an effort to gain awareness for and the passage of an anti-animal cruelty bill called Nitro's Law.
The Ohio-based law, formerly known as House Bill 70, would increase the penalty to a fifth degree felony for egregious acts of animal cruelty by the animal's caretaker, punishable by a year in jail per count. The bill is named after Nitro, a Rottweiler who was left in the care of High Caliber K-9 boarding kennel in October 2008. His human family came back to find seven dead and 12 starving dogs at the facility. The facility owner, Steve Croley, was sentenced to four months in jail and a fine after four misdemeanor charges were pursued. He also had his American Kennel Club privileges revoked for 10 years, and the AKC fined him $2,000.
"This isn't just a local issue, it's a national issue," said Moustaki. "This didn't happen in my home state, but as someone who speaks up for animals, I consider them all in my backyard. Animals don't vote, but their owners do. If this can happen in Ohio, it can happen anywhere, and it's important for people to be aware of the laws in their state."
Moustaki said she hopes to get pet lovers from all 50 states involved in her campaign, which includes eating on-camera and posting the videos on YouTube. "Ideally, other dog owners will join in on this with me," said Moustaki. "If we can create a movement, no matter how 'doggone crazy' eating dog food might seem, we might be able to make a positive change."

Hill's Pet Nutrition launches Healthy Advantage line in US

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. has announced the US launch of Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Advantage, a new line of veterinary exclusive multi-benefit pet nutrition.
Science Diet Healthy Advantage focuses on oral health, weight management and feline bladder health. The petfood also contains benefits like skin and coat health, healthy digestion and canine mobility. The product will be available in both growth and adult formulas for dogs and cats beginning in March.

Natures Menu lists 'Top 10' ingredients for dog food

Natures Menu compiled a "Top 10" list of ingredients that the company advises all dogs should eat.
Topping the list was tripe, for its dental benefits as well as enzymes, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. Parsley was listed as a good source of antioxidants, chlorophyll and vitamins A, C and K. Brown rice is often found in dog food because it is rich in fiber and aids in digestion. The company said carrots are one of the richest sources of beta carotene and apples are rich in vitamin C.
Also on the list were blueberries and swede, which contains the same cancer protecting phytochemicals as cabbage and broccoli. For healthy skin and coat, salmon oil was listed as a source of both amino acids and omega fatty acids that help control inflammation. Other ingredients included chicken, as a source of lean protein, and potatoes, as a high-potassium, alternative carbohydrate.

PMI Nutrition offers new Exclusive, Infinia petfood lines

PMI Nutrition LLC redesigned its Exclusive brand petfood formulas, and now offers a new Infinia holistic dog food line.
The Exclusive and Infinia lines offer 14 healthy options for consumers to feed to their pets, according to the company. The Infinia line features four recipes: chicken & brown rice, turkey & sweet potato, bison & potato, and grain-free, ZenFood salmon & sweet potato.

The 10 worst commercial dog food ingredients

The ingredients of dog food remain a mystery, with most of us not really wanting to know the truth about what our beloved pet is feasting on.
But just as it’s important to read the labels on the food you bring into your kitchen, the same goes for your dog’s food. When it comes to properly reading the labels on most commercial dog food packages, youneed to know the inside scoop on what is actually meant by terms like“meat and bone meal,” and “poultry by-products.”
Here is your guide to decoding ten of the worst commercial dog food ingredients. ...Read the full blog on www.petfood-connection.com.