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Bob Vetere, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation, announced that over the past year, its online hub, HABRI Central, has collected extensive research and evidence available online for peer review in seven key areas. The Foundation identified the following seven key areas in which human health is positively impacted by animals: allergy and asthma immunity among children, Alzheimer’s, autism, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Among key findings in these seven fields, new research has shown that contact with companion animals can have physical benefits to those with post-traumatic stress disorder such as the release of oxytocin and endorphins in the brain; pets can have a protective effect for young children from allergies later in life; and patients who own a pet have a better survival rate of recovering from heart surgery.
“Research exploring the human-animal bond is still a relatively new area of study and we are pleased with the compilation and strong amount of research that has been conducted on these health issues thus far,” said Vetere. “We look forward to continuing the momentum and our commitment to supporting research in multiple fields to help solidify that pets provide people with dozens of health benefits and much more than just love and companionship.”
Vetere will discuss HABRI and its latest findings as the closing keynote speaker for Petfood Forum on April 17.
The 2013 Alltech International Symposium will focus on challenges agribusiness must overcome in the next seven years to be able to feed 7.4 billion people by 2020 when it is held May 19-22 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Seven key barriers that impede the world’s ability to feed an estimated 9 billion people by 2050 were identified by 25 agribusiness experts in a recently published International Food and Agribusiness Management Review article: government, losses in the food and ingredient supply chains, infrastructure, markets, politics and policies, science and innovation, and the environment. The Alltech Symposium will explore ways the industry can overcome these barriers and maintain or restore consumers’ perceptions of food safety and health.
New for 2013, the Symposium will give attendees the opportunity to attend breakout session tracks, allowing them to participate in discussions ranging from algae and agriculture’s carbon footprint to nutrition and marketing. Discussions within this track selection may include:
• The Business of Agriculture
• Crisis Management
• Farming Soils for the Future
• Milk: The Perfect Food
• Carbon Footprint, Sustainability and Profitability
• Feeding for Fertility
• Optimizing Rumen Function
• Branding Food: A Taste of What Consumers Really Want
• Reimagining Beef Production
• Nutrigenomics: A Nutrition Revolution
• Interfacing Nutrition and Immunity
• Experiences from the Field: Rethinking Animal Health
• Farming the Sea
• The Algae Opportunity
• Feeding Your Friend: Companion Animal Nutrition
• Connecting with Consumers through the World’s Premier Equestrian Event
• Profit from the Core
• Next Generation Foods
• Celebrating the Farmer
• Beyond the Brand: Customer Engagement
• Farm to Fork: Branding All-Natural Omega-3 Pork to the Consumer
• Communicating Diversity: A Dialogue with the Latin Market
• The Changing Face of Media
• Building a Successful Brand Beyond Your Home Market
• Crops: An Extra Ton per 2.5 Acres?
Discounted registration of US$599 is available now through April 15. Standard registration will be offered after April 15 for US$850. For more information, contact Alltech via email to symposium@alltech.com.
Pet owner Fleur Bailey has created a new line of natural, homemade dog food supplements inspired by her Dalmation, “Maddie,” who lost her appetite undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma.
The Maddie’s Mash line of dog food supplements includes recipes prepared from all-natural, human-grade ingredients locally grown and raised in New York, USA. Bailey says the recipes in the Maddie’s Mash line promote healthy skin, a better immune system, stronger bones and joints, and fewer chronic digestive problems. Recipes include Maddie’s Turkey, as well as gluten-free Maddie’s Beef and Maddie’s Chicken. The meals come frozen in a 32-ounce recycled plastic container.
Maddie’s Mash products are sold through Amazon.com and on the Maddie’s Mash website.
Hy-Vee Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of certain bags of Hy-Vee dog food due to elevated levels of aflatoxin, a chemical contaminant commonly found in corn, found in some samples, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Routine random tests conducted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture indicated higher-than-normal levels of aflatoxin in some samples of Hy-Vee dog food produced at a Kansas City plant operated by Pro-Pet LLC. Hy-Vee officials said the recall is voluntary and only conducted as a precautionary measure. No illnesses have been reported in dogs consuming the product, and the product does not pose a health risk to humans handling it. Hy-Vee officials have also removed all potentially affected products from Hy-Vee stores.
The recalled products carry three different "Best By" dates and were distributed to Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin between October 26, 2012, and January 11, 2013.
Customers are urged to check the "Best By" dates on any product they have at home and refrain from feeding any of the recalled products to their pets. Any bags of Hy-Vee dog food subject to the recall, whether opened or unopened, may be returned to Hy-Vee stores for a full refund.
In conjunction with February’s National Pet Dental Health Month, Banfield Pet Hospital released results from its survey of pet owners, which found the majority of pet owners are unaware that a pet’s bad breath could be an indication of a greater health problem.
According to the survey, conducted by The Pert Group, bad breath is an early sign of dental disease, which is the most common disease in pets, affecting 78 percent of dogs and 68 percent of cats over 3 years old. More than half (59 percent) of pet owners surveyed did not know that dental disease is the most common disease in cats and dogs.
Although the survey found that more than half (57 percent) of dog owners admitted their pet has bad breath, just 6 percent cited bad smelling breath as a reason to schedule a dental cleaning. Nearly one-third (27 percent) of dog owners surveyed said they have purposely avoided cuddling closely with their dog because of bad breath.
Despite bad breath, 62 percent of dog owners surveyed said they are not planning to take action to alleviate their pet’s bad breath, and 38 percent of dog owners and 29 percent of cat owners surveyed said they have taken their pet to the veterinarian for a professional teeth cleaning.
“It’s a little concerning that more than half of dog owners believe their pet has bad breath but only a small percent would actually seek medical advice from a veterinarian. What pet owners don’t realize is that bad breath is often an indicator of something serious. Many people believe that bad dog breath is normal—it’s actually not,” said Jeffrey Klausner, DVM, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Banfield Pet Hospital. “Because dental disease is the most common disease affecting dogs and cats over the age of three, it’s critical that pet owners partner with their veterinarian when it comes to their pet’s preventive care, especially their oral health. Simple steps such as twice-yearly visits to the veterinarian and annual professional cleanings are important to keeping pets healthy and happy.”
In an effort to address the issue of pet dental health, Banfield is offering a limited-time coupon for a dental consultation by a veterinarian, which can be downloaded from Banfield’s website during the month of February. Additionally, Banfield’s Facebook fans can enter the “Show Us Your Breath Face Sweepstakes” for a chance to win a one-year Optimum Wellness Plan with dental cleaning from Banfield. Facebook users can enter through March 30 by submitting photos of their facial expressions captured when smelling their pets’ bad breath. In addition to the grand prize, 50 first-prize winners will be selected to receive a Banfield Dental Health Kit.
Pet food maker The Honest Kitchen is recalling five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive pet food products after learning that one of its raw ingredients suppliers recalled a batch of human-grade parsley contaminated with Salmonella. The parsely, shipped to the pet food company in 2012, was used as an ingredient in the five lots of pet food being recalled.
The recall applies to petfood manufactured between August 2012 and November 2012, sold throughout the US and Canada via retail stores, mail order and online. The lots being recalled, including item code, name, expiration date, size and lot number are:
- V4 + VR, Verve, 8/20/12 through 8/20/13, 4 lb. and 10-lb. boxes, 2332A (batches 1-3)
- VR, Verve, 11/1/12 through 11/1/13, 10-lb. box, 3062A (batches 8-9)
- TM, Thrive, 9/18/12 through 9/18/13, 1-oz. sample, 2622A (batch 3)
- Z4 + ZR, Zeal, 8/14/12 through 8/14/13, 4-lb. and 10-lb. boxes, 2272A (batches 1-5)
- ZR, Zeal, 9/21/12 through 9/21/13, 10-lb. box, 2652A (batches 1-4)
Consumers who purchased the recalled lots of Honest Kitchen Verve, Zeal or Thrive products should stop feeding the products to pets, remove the UPC (bar code) and lot code from the packaging, and discard the petfood products. Consumers can receive a replacement or refund of the affected products plus US$1 to cover postage, by mailing the UPC and lot code along with a completed reimbursement form to: The Honest Kitchen, 145 14th Street, San Diego, California 92101, Attn: Reimbursements. Refunds will be processed within five business days (plus postage time).
Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.866.437.9729, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or via email to info@thehonestkitchen.com.
To supplement its quality control processes, The Honest Kitchen is enacting the following additional procedures:
- All dehydrated leafy greens will be steamed to further protect against the possibility of Salmonella and other pathogens
- All leafy greens will receive a second test for pathogens after arrival at the company's manufacturing facility, in addition to the testing conducted internally by suppliers
- The company has discontinued its relationship with the supplier that provided the parsley used in the production of the lots being recalled
Nutri-Vet LLC is recalling its Nutri-Vet and NutriPet chicken jerky products the pet treats may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The pet treat recall was initiated because the manufacturer of an ingredient used in the products informed Nutri-Vet of the possibility of Salmonella presence at the manufacturing facility.
Chicken jerky products affected by the recall have "Best By" dates between April 20, 2014, and October 3, 2014. The recalled chicken jerky products were distributed throughout the US via online sales and retail stores from April 2012 through February. The following is a list of recalled products, including item #, description, package size and UPC code:
•76-0081 NutriPet Natural Chicken Fillet Strips 16-oz., 76-0081 (No bar code)
•50704 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Joint Health 5-oz., 669125507049
•50705 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Joint Health 15-oz., 69125507056
•50706 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Glossy Coat 5-oz., 669125507063
•50707 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Glossy Coat 15-oz., 669125507070
•50708 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Stress and Anxiety 5-oz., 669125507087
•50709 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Stress and Anxiety 15-oz., 669125507094
•50710 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Fresh Breath 5-oz., 669125507100
•50711 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Fresh Breath 15-oz., 669125507117
•50712 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Senoir Dogs 5-oz., 669125507124
•50714 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Healthy Digestion 5-oz., 669125507148
•50716 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats for Healthy Weight 5-oz., 669125507162
•50701 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats 5-oz., 669125507018
•50702 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats 8-oz., 669125507025
•50703 Nutri-Vet K9 Natural Chicken Breast Treats 16-oz., 669125507032
•99044 Nutri-Vet K9 Hip & Joint Chicken Breast Strips 8-oz., 669125990445
Nutri-Vet says no positive test results have been found on the Nutri-Vet or NutriPet chicken jerky treats to date. However, consumers who have purchased Nutri-Vet and NutriPet chicken jerky products are urged to stop feeding them to pets and return the treats to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Nutri-Vet at +1.877.729.8668, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. MDT.
