Petprinces - Exclusive Pet Products

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Matthew Wismayer
PET FOOD - NOTHING TO HIDE
Pet food labels have got to tell the truth, but designer
packaging adds to the distraction of the finer points of
what's in the bag. The convenience of processed pet food
is one way for busy, caring pet owners to make meal times
easy. But understanding the basics of pet food
formulations is never straightforward and the use of
scientific words becomes confusing.
First rule: to highlight the main source of ingredients, pet
food manufacturers must, by law, list the first five to seven
ingredients which carry the most weight in the
formulations, followed by the lesser ingredients in
sequence. This makes it easy to determine what's in the
bag!
Second rule: evaluate the quality and quantity in the
formulations by asking what protein is present, is it animal
or plant, and is it fit for human consumption?
Fundamentally meat and its quality are key to good
nutrition - by-product meat and other by-product
ingredients are less desirable and consist of anything BUT
the finer cuts.
What is bad? Words like derivatives. Derivatives of
anything works out for cheaper low grade ingredients!
High levels of unspecified grain and cereals, hulls of
corn, bran, peanut and soya bean and high levels of grain
fibre (40-50%), that can't be digested, act only as fillers.
Avoid 'sources' of animal or poultry fat, vegetable and
mineral oil. Additives such as artificial colourants - BHA,
BHT, ethoxyquin or sodium meta bisulphite are known to
add strain vital organs.
Pets will eat almost anything, but longterm you will pay
the price – best to pay a price for good food and a longer
life...because, like us, you too know how to care!
Always ask! If you are unsure then our advice is readily
available but consulting a veterinary professional is
important for reassurance.
© Matthew Wismayer 2014
The FACT is...because we care
What is good? Quality protein from quality fresh
meat is the best, where honest 'meat meal'
becomes the dried end product of a process that
produces a protein powder. Concentrating the
water content of fresh meat into a higher
percentage of protein makes the product more
caloric and concentrated. Fibre is specified by
name – look for beet pulp, brown rice, barley, oats,
fruits, sweet potato and peas, to name a few. Fats
and oils are also listed by name: chicken fat, herring
fat, canola or sunflower oil and percentages
of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Note that quality food is
preserved naturally, as in a range vitamins, herbs,
extracts and ascorbic acid.
Importance of reading pet food labels
Facts of Pet Food Labels