Dr. Samaneh Azarpajouh recently authored an article about pet food ingredients on the website AllAboutFeed.net. Her post – “Shelf-life evaluation of ingredients in pet food” – gives us an interesting look into commercial pet food through the industry’s perspective.
Remember, this perspective of pet food ingredients is an industry perspective – an industry veterinarian writing for the pet feed industry (nothing similar to what the pet food industry tells pet owners).
“Fresh meats and meat meals are two raw materials used as protein sources in dry pet food. Fresh meats are obtained from the meat rejected as unfit for human consumption with no signs of disease transmissible to humans, while meat meals are derived from animal parts such as hooves, horns, bristles, and feathers that are not consumed by humans.”
“Meat meals undergo an intensive industrial process using high temperatures, 115 to 145°C (240 to 290 °F) as a method to separate and melt the fat from the solids. High temperature may damage proteins and amino acids, making them less digestible, cause protein oxidation, partial degradation of raw materials and alteration in organoleptic and nutritional properties of pet food products. In addition, inappropriate storage condition increases the proliferation of microorganisms, degrades organic components, and develops harmful products, such as biogenic amines.”
After this less than appealing insight into dry pet food ingredients, the veterinarian author also gives a less than positive perspective on raw pet food.
“…raw-frozen pet food may experience multiple freeze-thaw cycles as it is being transported, purchased, and stored, leading to the potential for product oxidation.”
A different story…
As evidenced from this post, when industry talks amongst themselves they openly share ingredients are derived from condemned/inferior sources or at risk for nutritional degradation. When industry talks to pet owners, they tell a VERY different story. As example:
Nutrish: “made with simple, natural ingredients”.
Fromm: “tastefully prepared with select proteins and wholesome ingredients”.
Beneful: “simply made with natural ingredients”.
‘Simple, natural, and wholesome’ is a far different thing than condemned and nutritionally degraded.
Personal perspective: Not all pet food meats are sourced from condemned animal parts. Not all raw-frozen pet foods experience multiple freeze-thaw cycles. The trouble is…how do pet owners know which is which?
Currently the FDA refuses to require pet food manufacturers to disclose quality of ingredients, pet owners have no choice but to do the homework themselves.
Ask your pet food manufacturer to provide you a guarantee meat ingredients are USDA inspected and passed. Ask them to guarantee ingredients are properly stored/transported frozen or under refrigeration. Ask your independent pet store if they validate the temperature of all frozen pet foods received from the distributor (if they remained frozen in transit).
Wishing you and your pet the best –
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Shirl
June 15, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Would canned cat food be affected in this high heat wave we’re having during shipping to my home, or even to the pet store? Wonder how that is stored, where and for how long.
Kyle
June 16, 2022 at 11:28 am
It can absolutely be affected, especially if the cans use any materials like BPA for their can linings. Higher-heat temperatures can easily result in transfer of micro-particles from the metals in the can directly into the pet food.
spookywanluke
June 16, 2022 at 12:01 pm
From a scientist perspective: yes and no.
The simple act of canning under pressure removes a vital ingredient to food going off: air (oxygen).
This is why fruit, veggies and meats can last for years if canned. (But go off very quickly when opened).
Will the high heat/cold cycle degrade what’s inside though? Possibly, at least in nutrients, but nothing like what it would be doing to kibble bags and if raw was defrosted.