Williams: Pet food recalls - wake up call or easily forgotten

Spring 2007 marked the beginning of a mass recall of a wide variety of pet foods and received unprecedented media attention. Initially prompted by sporadic reports of renal failure in North America, Europe and South Africa, within weeks reports of thousands of animal deaths from kidney failure sent pet owners into a state of panic. After thorough investigation, the cause of the deaths was attributed to mass melamine contamination of commonly used products such as wheat and corn gluten and rice protein, produced primarily in China. The voluntary recall of dozens of brands of pet foods not only brought about awareness of the processing and manufacturing of pet foods, but also raised concerns about the safety of our human supply as well.

However, two years later, has the pet food industry changed? I have noticed pet food companies trying to do a much better job at labeling. Companies seem to be striving to give at least the appearance of using wholesome, all natural ingredients, particularly products grown and harvested in the United States. But, what about pet owners; have we changed the way we choose our pet foods?

In the beginning I received more inquiries about quality foods than ever before. Rather than just grabbing the cheapest food off the shelves, more people started reading pet food labels, willingly switched to more holistic, all natural foods, and some even started cooking for their pets. However, this diligence was short lived. But, it’s still possible to make better choices in what you put in your pet’s dish without breaking the bank. Thorough label reading and an understanding of common ingredients used in pet foods can make a big difference.

▪ The first thing to look for is the protein source that is used. Cats and dogs are primarily carnivores, therefore, unless your pet is on a veterinarian directed prescription diet, the main protein in a food should come from an animal source. Steer clear of foods with wheat or corn gluten or rice protein as the main protein source. Additionally, protein made with animal sources that have undergone the same inspections for human consumption is even better. One of the most startling facts to come out during the recalls was the usage of "4-D meats" in many pet foods. This is meat from animals that were dead, diseased, down or dying at the slaughter plant.

▪ Buy American by sticking to pet foods that use ingredients grown and manufactured in the U.S. This information isn’t always available on the label, but is easily obtainable. Every bag of food should have both a contact phone number and Web site address for consumers to call or visit to get additional information.

▪ Check the top four to five ingredients carefully. Just like human foods, ingredients are listed by weight in descending order. This gives the clearest indication of what your dog or cat is actually eating. .

▪ Beware of “by-products.” Specifically, meat by-product consists mainly of animal parts that are not used for human consumption, such as bones, organs, blood, fatty tissue and intestines. In other words, if a label lists "chicken by-product," while all the parts may have come from a chicken, it doesn’t contain the muscle and tissue most nutrient dense, but rather the cheaper parts with less nutritional value.

▪ Keep track of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Artificial is the opposite of natural.

▪ Watch for label wordplay and disguised ingredients. Some foods will list different variations of the same grain in the ingredients.

▪ Give special brownie points for foods that contain any of the following:
•organic meat sources
•hormone and antibiotic-free meat sources
•probiotics (enzymes that aid digestion and promote digestive balance)
•whole fruits and vegetables
•vitamins and minerals
•flax seed oil
•fish oils
•glucosamine and chondroitin

One of the scariest things about the pet food recalls of 2007 was that it caught so many people off guard and left them feeling helpless. If we use the information we learned through that horrible experience and continue to make the wisest choices we can, that never has to happen again.

Laurie Williams is a Stafford business owner who appeared on the TV show, “Greatest American Dog.” Reach her at onesmartpooch@aol.com.