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Download the PDF Version - Dogs Naturally Magazine

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Yet ano<strong>the</strong>r one<br />

<strong>the</strong> reasons why <strong>the</strong>re are so many pet food recalls<br />

By Maria Ringo DHMHS, B.GS<br />

There is a good chance that at some<br />

point in <strong>the</strong> next month you will be reading<br />

about ano<strong>the</strong>r pet food recall due to<br />

toxins found in pet food. Even people<br />

without pets were riveted to <strong>the</strong> news<br />

around <strong>the</strong> widespread panic that happened<br />

back in 2007 when Menu Foods<br />

brands were found to contain lethal doses<br />

of melamine. Melamine is what <strong>the</strong>y<br />

make kitchen counters out of, so what<br />

was it doing in pet food?<br />

Melamine contains high levels of protein,<br />

believe it or not. It was added to a “vitamin/mineral<br />

premix” manufactured in<br />

China, in order to boost <strong>the</strong> nutritional<br />

profile of <strong>the</strong> mix. Bags and bags of this<br />

premix, virtually all made offshore, are<br />

shipped to North American pet food<br />

manufacturers every day, where <strong>the</strong><br />

mixture is <strong>the</strong>n added by <strong>the</strong> scoopful to<br />

pet food recipes in order to meet AAFCO<br />

minimum standards for certain nutritional<br />

requirements. Check <strong>the</strong> back of most<br />

pet food packages and look at <strong>the</strong> chemical<br />

names listed at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> ingredients<br />

list – that’s <strong>the</strong> premix.<br />

<strong>Dogs</strong> <strong>Naturally</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> | May/June2012<br />

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