This is an extremely one sided article that recently appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Only one veterinarian was quoted and that veterinarian is an associate at a conventional veterinary clinic. So, the holistic view point is not represented. I agree many foods are over priced for the ingredients that are contained within. Look at the label, if meat is not the first ingredient, put it back. Diets made to feed dogs and cats should have meat as the first ingredient. If they have a grain product as the first ingredient they are using cheaper ingredients to “balance” the diet; therefor the product should cost less than other brands. You want to avoid products that contain large amounts of by-product and digests. If you see things like bha, bht and ethoxyquin on the label, don’t buy that product as these are preservatives that have been linked to cancer.
Mon 02 Mar 2009 03:21
By Diane C. Lade
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Multiple Page View
A 5.5-ounce can of “holistic pheasant” cat food sells for $1.73 at a Fort Lauderdale specialty pet food store. Three blocks away, you can get the same sized can of a supermarket chain brand cat food for 39 cents.
Let’s examine this statement. Without the entire label we can’t really evaluate the quality of the two cans of food. If the “holistic pheasant” canned food contains 95% pheasant meat and the “supermarket” canned food contains 10% meat bi-product and 90% grains and digests. Then of course the Holistic brand would be worth the extra money. Just because the cans are the same size, means very little. LOOK AT THE ENTIRE LABEL AND READ IT CLOSELY.
Is the more expensive one better for your cat than the supermarket food?
YES, QUITE POSSIBLY THE MORE EXPENSIVE CAN IS THE BETTER FOOD, BUT YOU MUST READ THE ENTIRE INGREDIENT LABEL TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT FACT.
Not necessarily, at least according to eight dog and cat nutrition experts at seven well-known veterinary medical schools who were interviewed by Consumer Reports. The bottom line of the article in the magazine’s March issue: “There are quality foods at every price point,” This is a true statement, you can find quality foods at almost all price points, if you know how to read a label, said Jamie Kopf Hirsh, the associate health editor who wrote the piece.
Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, was more direct: There is no scientific evidence that “any food is better than the next,” This would depend on the definition of “scientific evidence”. Most evidence based researchers look for double blind studies to qualify as scientific research, I doubt any pet food company has engaged in this type of research, regardless of price, he told Hirsh. Two years ago, a spate of pet food recalls — most connected to tainted wheat gluten imported from China — started consumers looking more closely at what they were feeding their pets. More than 100 brands ultimately were recalled and hundreds of animals are believed to have been sickened or died from eating these products. Once again a true statement, companies that chose to buy cheap product from China found that their products were causing renal failure in pets who were consuming the product. Food produced by companies who refuse to purchase inexpensive ingredients from countries with lower product standards than the US will have a product that costs more per can. This only makes sense, if you use more expensive ingredients your product will have to sell for more. If you cut corners by purchasing ingredients of questionable quality and safety you can set your price lower.
Food and Drug Administration Spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey said the agency, which regulates pet food along with the states, is working on updating pet food labeling requirements. But many pet owners remain confused by vague ingredient lists and terms that are more about marketing than nutrition.
Phrases like “holistic,” “gourmet” and “premium” now are commonly found on pet food packages. But any product could make these claims because they aren’t regulated and FDA does not define them.
There also are no FDA standards for “prescription” diets, usually sold by vets, and non-prescription diets. And “senior” foods do not need to be specially formulated, although manufacturers now must show proof of scientific claims, such as foods designed to reduce urinary tract infections.
Dr. Gary Edelson, an associate veterinarian with Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic in Weston, said there is no reason to believe higher-priced pet food is safer or more nutritious than less costly varieties. Once again this is true, the price doesn’t guarantee quality, the ingredient list does.
“[You] would like to think that the more expensive the diet, the more expensive the ingredients” — which may sometimes be true. “But expensive also could mean you are paying for a marketing campaign.”
He said the best way to tell that a pet is being fed the right product is if the animal is healthy and active, with a glossy coat. How long would you have to feed an inferior diet and how sick would the animal have to be before external signs begin to show? I am not willing to base my pet’s health on a glossy coat.
Edelson always picks products with labels stating the food was developed through “animal feeding tests” under guidelines by the Association of American Feed Control Officers, a regulatory group that sets ingredient standards..
He also said he prefers companies with a nutritionist on staff, “so if there is a problem, I can talk to someone who can do some research on it.”
Diane Lade can be reached at dlade@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4295 or 561-243-6618.
So, you have my two cents worth, I would like to hear yours, please leave comments on this very important topic. If you have questions about your pets food, take a look at “the whole dog Journal” the print reports on the best pet foods each year. The Whole Dog Journal provides a wealth of information for dog owners.
