Pet Food Industry Is A Booming Business

Practically ever since man first urged a wild dog to sit beside him at the fire

, then shared his meal with it, there has been a bond between man and dog. We love them for their loyalty and bravery, and even if they are tiny they continue to protect us just as we watch over them. Other animals also became our companions or were found to be of use and soon there was a wide variety of animal life dependent on us to feed and care for them. So it's no wonder that the pet food industry is such a thriving, successful business.

Billions in feeding our pets

A booming business, dog and cat food sales are well over two billion pounds each year in the United Kingdom, and sales in the U.S. exceeded over sixteen billion dollars. Much of this pet food comes from France, the United States, and the Netherlands. Germany, Japan, and the UK are among the leading importers of pet foods world wide.

Typically, the contents of pet grade foods are considered not suitable for human consumption. This does not mean the meat and other products are spoiled or contaminated however. They are merely lower grades of meat which may be fattier or stringier than we would choose to purchase. The amount of meat in a pet grade food is usually low but the label will generally reflect that and provide a list of other ingredients as well.

According to the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), there are special requirement for labelling of pet foods. The association does not regulate pet foods, but does offer model standards and regulations which are followed by pet food makers in the U.S.

What is in the can or bag of pet food?

Ingredients in that bag or can of your pets food must be listed in order of weight per ingredient, with the highest by weight being first on that list. Meat must refer to only pigs, cows, sheep, and goats and include only specific muscle tissues.

Using the terms '100 percent' or 'all' can't be used if there is more than one ingredient in the product. This does not include small amounts of water which may be necessary for processing. Also trace amounts of condiments or preservatives.

A '95 percent rule' will apply if ingredients from poultry, animals, or fish make up at least that amount or more of the weight in total of the product. This drops to 70 percent when water for processing is excluded.

A '25 percent rule' applies to what is termed 'dinner' product. These constitute a minimum of 25 percent by weight to ingredients or combinations of ingredients, with the exclusion of water in a sufficient amount for proper processing. Additionally, a minimum of 10 percent dry matter by weight warrants a description like 'platter', 'recipe', or 'formula'. Lesser amounts can be included in the labelling as long as they are listed by descending order of weights.

From every day kibble to gourmet canned foods, our dogs are pretty well fed, some even to the point of obesity. The pet food industry, while in the business to make money, does devote a large amount of time and money toward insuring our pets are well fed.

by: Lawrence White

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