FOOD

Bone of contention Watching your pet's diet can make a huge difference to their health. We take a closer look at the quality of commercial pet food and at different feeding practices.

Cats and dogs make excellent able to feel the ribs and spine easily but putting it in my trolley.” companions, particularly for people who they should not be visible. Also, by Mars Inc. claims leadership of the Irish live alone. Studies have shown that the looking at your pet you should be able to pet-care sector, with almost a 60% share. presence of a pet can help to reduce the see their waist tucking in just before the Mars Pedigree (for dogs) and Whiskas stress levels of their owner by increasing hips. One way to reduce weight of your (for cats) are the market leaders while the release of endorphins, or ‘feel-good pet is to control portion sizes and stick their other brands include Cesar, Sheba, hormones’, in the body. to a feeding schedule. Dog treats in Pal, Kitekat, Catsan, and Frolic. Increased Pets require a lot of care however, and particular can be high in calories. If a spending on pet-related goods and it is important to pay close attention to constant supply of food is left out, cats services has led to predictions that the what they are fed. Just like us, our pets will graze frequently, which can cause market could be worth between €170 need a balanced diet with specific obesity. Walking your dog daily and million and €200 million within the next amounts of nutrients. A cat's diet should taking cats outside regularly to play is five years. be about fifty-fifty for meat and advisable. carbohydrates, while dogs can thrive on Pet food basics roughly 25% meat and 75% A profitable industry The production of pet food is a highly carbohydrates. Poor quality food can Pet ownership drives the demand for the automated process. Heating, cooking, cause harmful effects and lead to obesity, production of commercial pet food, and rendering, freezing, dehydrating, canning diabetes and heart disease. the industry is extremely competitive. and extruding can alter or destroy Large companies spend millions of euro nutrients, so vitamins and minerals are AT A GLANCE Puppy fat on advertising to maintain their market usually added to compensate. Pet foods Research undertaken in 2008 by share, and this advertising can be very also contain preservatives to ensure a veterinary charity the People’s Dispensary convincing. As one cat owner, Anne long shelf-life. Certain chemical Pet food industry. for Sick Animals (PDSA) found that over Marie Connolly, says, “The cats in the ad preservatives should be avoided but this Dietary 30% of UK dogs are overweight or obese. are really healthy looking. I think it’s is difficult since there are no specific requirements. To find out if your pet is overweight the called Kite Kat...I'm so used to buying it I requirements for listing these. PDSA recommends that you feel along don't even know its name. I'm built into The most commonly fed pet foods are Pet food labelling. their chest and backbone. You should be a routine of just picking it up and purchased in tins or pouches from

92 consumer choice MARCH 2009 FOOD . Wet foods refer to tinned can cause damage to an animal’s definition of certain ingredients and how products, and dry foods are complete, musculoskeletal system and to their they must be declared on the label. For biscuit-based diets. Fresh water should kidneys. I have seen a lot of injuries example, the 1996 Council Directive on always be available to your cat or dog caused by bones obstructing or lacerating the circulation of feed materials describes especially when they are fed dry foods. their digestive system. Cooked bones in meat meal as “Product obtained by Guidelines on packaging indicate how particular are prone to splintering and a heating, drying and grinding whole or much to feed. further problem is that parasites can be parts of warm-blooded land animals from passed to pets from uncooked meat.” which the fat may have been partially Feeding cats She adds that many vets will extracted or physically removed. The Cats require a diet high in protein and recommend dried food or a mixture of product must be substantially free of should not be fed a vegetarian diet dried and canned food for cats and dogs. hooves, horn, bristle, hair and feathers, as because they cannot synthesise taurine, “Dried food is more economical, well as digestive tract content. (Minimum an essential amino acid found in meat. particularly for feeding larger pets and is crude protein content 50% in dry matter). However, a diet consisting solely of red anecdotally better for their teeth and (Maximum total phosphorus content: muscle meat is not sufficient for cats (or gums. However moist food is the best 8%)”. However, when labelling, the only dogs) as it does not provide enough way to get fluid into your pet especially if compulsory declaration for meat meal is calcium for their bones. It is also they are not drinking enough water.” She “Crude protein, Crude fat, Crude ash, important to note that some cats become advises pet owners to ask their vet for Moisture, if > 8 %.” intolerant of the lactose in milk when advice about the most suitable product In March 2008, the European they reach about 12 weeks of age. Live for their particular animal. “Although a Commission presented a proposal for a bio yoghurt may be more easily digested. growing proportion of people purchase new framework regulation on the It is thought that chocolate, garlic, pet food from supermarkets, pet shops labelling and marketing of feed and pet grapes, onions, raisins and tomatoes are and veterinary practices often have a food. The proposal suggests that toxic to cats. wider range of high quality pet foods. voluntary labelling codes for pet food be Your vet can also provide specialist advice laid down. However a complete and Feeding dogs on the best products to feed.” compulsory list of ingredients with proper Protein is essential to a dog's body so product identification is necessary to meat should make up about 20% to 30% Pet food recalls ensure proper information is available to of each meal. Consider your dog's size, There was a major recall of cat and dog the consumer. To avoid misleading weight, activity, age and level before foods in the US in 2007 in response to customers, manufacturers could choosing the best quality food possible, reports of renal failure in pets. Vets endeavour to provide the exact weight and make sure the feed is measured subsequently reported more than 100 pet percentages of the contents of their correctly. Some breeds only need to be deaths amongst nearly 500 cases of products. fed once or twice a day. In their kidney failure. Most of the recalled nutritional guidelines for pet foods, the product came from Menu Foods. Brands examined European Pet Food Industry Federation Scientists discovered high levels of Consumer Choice examined the ingredients FEDIAF (see Useful websites) lists milk, melamine, a chemical used in plastics on the labels of six brands of canned dog beef, eggs, cereals and dairy products as and fertilisers, in wheat gluten and rice food available in Irish supermarkets (see proteins against which dogs and cats can protein concentrate imported from table). Prices for a standard 400g tin ( potentially react. Alcohol, avocados, China. The melamine had been added to sells an 800g tin, PAL weighs 385g) varied chocolate, coffee, garlic, grapes, the ingredients to misleadingly increase although the ingredient lists are all very macadamia nuts, mushrooms, onions, their protein content. The recall was similar to one another. None of the labels tea, tobacco and raisins are thought to be followed by widespread public outrage we examined gave the exact amount of toxic to dogs. and calls for government regulation of any named meat contained in the pet foods to replace the self-regulation of product. ‘Meat and Animal derivatives, Commercial versus raw feeding the industry by pet food manufacturers. minimum 4% beef’ (or chicken etc)’ is Raw feeding is based on Dr. Ian usually the first ingredient. A pet food Billinghurst's BARF (Bones and Raw Labelling requirements label that says "...with beef or "with" any Food) Diet which entails feeding mainly Under EU legislation, the following ingredient(s) must have at least 4% beef uncooked meat and bones to pets. labelling information must be displayed (or any other named ingredient) in the Supporters of raw feeding are usually on ‘feedingstuff’ or ‘petfood’: formula. The minimum is indicated, so a opposed to commercial pet foods, which • Feed materials Amount contained or consumer buying pet food ‘with 4% they consider poor substitutes for the in descending order by weight. minimum of beef’ is told that there is ‘natural’ diet animals would have in the • Vitamins Levels of Vitamins E, A and some beef in the product but they may wild. However such feeding practices D and copper, if present. not know that the main ingredient can may jeopardise the health of your pet. • Additives (Need not be named if they include a high quantity of unnamed meat Veterinary surgeon Jenny Moffet says are on an EC approved list.) derivatives which are never listed. “The whole veterinary profession is Pet food labels are only required to show Many brands use a little lean meat and divided on feeding practices. Some a chemical analysis of the food add meat by-products or derivatives, the people have managed raw feeding contained. An analytical declaration of left over parts of meat and cereals not successfully but balancing the nutrient ingredients is optional and there seem to required by the human food industry, to requirements is difficult and deficiencies be major differences between the make up the balance. Dogs and cats in

FOOD MARCH 2009 consumer choice 93 DOG FOODS COMPARED Useful websites Manufacturer Price (€) Weight (g) Price per 100g (€) Purchased

The European Pet Food Dogfood (Lidl) Lidl 0.79 800 0.10 Lidl Industry Federation Dunnes Stores Classic Chunks’n’Gravy Dunnes Stores 0.67 400 0.17 Dunnes Stores with Beef & Poultry www.fediaf.org Earl’s Healthy Balance Premium Chunks 0.59 400 0.15 Aldi with lamb in jelly People’s Dispensary for Pal with Chicken & Beef in Jelly Mars Ireland 0.89 385 0.23 Sick Animals www.pdsa.org.uk Pedigree with Beef & Poultry in Gravy Mars Ireland 0.97 400 0.24 Tesco Meat in Jelly with Beef Tesco 0.74 400g 0.19 Tesco

WHAT’S IN A CAN?

Consumer Choice looked at the contents of canned dog foods earlier this year.

• Dogfood (Lidl) • Earl’s Healthy Balance Premium Chunks • Pedigree with Beef & Poultry in Gravy Meat and animal derivatives (meats 4%), with lamb in jelly Meat and Animal Derivatives (including min Cereals, Minerals, Derivatives of vegetable Meat and Animal Derivatives (Lamb 4% 4% beef, min.4% poultry, min 4% fresh origin. Typical Analysis: Protein 6%, Oils and Minimum), Cereals, Minerals, Coloured with meat), cereals, derivatives of vegetable Fats 4%, Ash 2%, Fibre 0.4%, Moisture EC Additives. Typical Analysis: Moisture origin, vegetable protein extracts, oils and 79%, Vitamins A, D3, E 80%, Protein 8.0%, Oils and Fats 6.5%, Ash fats, minerals. With colourants (permitted • Dunnes Stores Classic Chunks’n’Gravy 2%, Fibre 0.5%, Vitamin A, D3, E EC additives). Typical Analysis: Protein 8%, with Beef & Poultry • Pal with Chicken & Beef in Jelly Oil 5.5%, Ash 2%, Fibre 0.8%, Moisture Meat and Animal Derivatives, (Beef min. Meat and animal derivatives (min. 4% 79%, Vit D3, E 4%, Poultry min 4%), Cereals, Fish and Fish chicken, min. 4% beef). Cereals. Derivatives • Tesco Meat in Jelly with Beef Derivatives, Minerals, Various Sugars, of vegetable origin. Minerals. Contains EEC Meat and Animal Derivatives (Beef 4% Coloured with EC Additives. Typical Analysis: permitted colorants and preservatives. minimum). Cereals, Minerals, Contains EC Moisture 81%, Protein 7.5%, Fat 5%, Ash Typical Analysis: Protein 5%, Oil 4.5%, Ash Permitted Colourants. Typical Analysis: 2.5%, Fibre 0.5%, Vitamin E, Cu 2.5%, Fibre 0.3%, Moisture 81%, Copper as Moisture 82%, Protein 7%, Oil 6%, Ash copper sulphate, Vitamins A, D3, E 2.5%, Fibre 0.5%, Vitamin A, D3, E

Information correct as at 7 January 2009.

the wild naturally eat the bones, information on calorie content so already had from their can of ‘Dogfood’ intestines and organs of their prey. consumers are also unable to compare while an Aldi representative said that However it is hard for consumers to the energy content of different brands. “due to specification and recipe gauge the quality of the nutrients Consumer Choice contacted the confidentiality we are not in a position to available from commercial pet food manufacturers, namely Aldi, Dunnes provide you with this information.” The without knowing the source of Stores, Lidl, Mars Ireland and Tesco, to Irish Pet Food Association said the derivatives, a generic term that could request more comprehensive information industry “uses by-products from the mean any animal or animal parts are regarding the contents and in particular human food chain… Manufacturers may used. Cereals and ‘derivatives of the ‘derivatives’ used in the cans we therefore use ingredients from different vegetable origin’ are also commonly looked at. We also contacted Irish Dog animal species based on supply levels. written on labels but some dogs have Foods Ltd and C&D Foods. However, we Listing ingredients by category means difficulty digesting wheat and other did not receive a single response producers can select ingredients based on grains. It is worrying that manufacturers providing the specific information we supply without having the high cost of are not required to specify the exact requested. A representative from Lidl changing labels constantly.” They stressed Report by contents. Pet food labels do not provide would only provide the label that we that stringent legislation ensures animal Sinéad Mc Mahon cc based materials used in pet foods come from animals which have passed veterinary inspections as fit for human consumption. Although we fully accept choice comment this point we made a final request for a sample description of the ingredients and Pet food is increasingly being marketed in similar ways to human food but the labelling requirements for pet food are percentage breakdown of the contents of far from equal. We need specific ingredients and weights to be listed on pet food labels so consumers can make more a typical can of dog food. However, a informed choices. Commercial diets are certainly convenient but a human being could not expect to thrive on a 100% representative told us that the Irish Pet processed diet from a packet or a tin and it does not seem feasible that a dog or cat could either. Variety is the key to Food Association does not collate this ensuring your pet obtains all the nutrients it needs. Making even some of your animal's food at home lets you control information. It leaves us to wonder the quality of the ingredients but this may not be possible due to financial and time constraints, and formulating a exactly why all of our requests were balanced diet can prove difficult. Always ask your vet for help if you are unsure. What works for one pet may not work either ignored by the industry or for another so any new foods should be introduced gradually and discontinued if any negative changes occur. answered in an unsatisfactory manner.

94 consumer choice MARCH 2009 FOOD