Are theses really Pet Food Myths or is this pet food marketing?
The following are two video’s titled Pet Food Myths; they are both sponsored by Purina. Below is Pet Food Myths Part 1, The Truth about Corn and Soy Ingredients…three guesses, first two don’t count what the Purina Representatives say about corn and soy…
Unfortunately, there is no mention in this pet food myths video of possible mycotoxins associated with corn; no mention of GM (genetically modified) corn. Mycotoxins ARE a real concern; a 2007 scientific paper believes even low levels of mycotoxins are causing serious health concerns in pets. GM corn IS a concern. In a recent post from Huffington Post: “In a study released by the International Journal of Biological Sciences, analyzing the effects of genetically modified foods on mammalian health, researchers found that agricultural giant Monsanto’s GM corn is linked to organ damage in rats.”
The ‘Pet Food Myth’ video also talks about the benefits of soy and touted the benefits of soy isoflavones. Hmmm. The soy industry says “Many health benefits have been attributed to soy consumption by humans, but these have not yet been studied using the companion animal.” Recent science links isoflavones to thyroid disease in cats. “The etiopathologic mechanism that we propose is as follows: inhibition of thyroid peroxidase by soy isoflavones leads to reduced thyroid hormone synthesis and a compensatory increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) release via the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.” Click Here to open a new window to read this study. And again, no mention of GM related concerns with soy.
Plus Pet Food Myths Video 1 throws in a positive plug for by-products stating they are a very good source of protein. Interestingly, the veterinarians in the video mistakenly give away a secret to ‘grade’ of by-products stating they are graded on mineral content only. No grade as to human grade internal organs or rejected animal parts. The only grading concern is the value of the mineral content – doesn’t matter where the mineral content comes from. Nice.
So, is this video really busting Pet Food Myths or is it pet food marketing?
Here’s another one, Part 2 Pet Food Myths Grocery Store and Veterinarian Recommended
A big ‘statement’ I took from video 2 was in explaining the differences between dog and cat nutritional needs. The Purina veterinarian stated cats need “some animal meat protein”…’some’…interesting. Further, Video 2 Pet Food Myths makes the statement that grocery store pet foods are the same as pet store foods. From my experience, I disagree. Typical grocery store foods contain ingredients such as ‘Animal Fat’ and ‘Meat and Bone Meal’ which were determined by FDA testing to be likely to contain a euthanized animal. Independent Pet Stores rarely (if ever) sell pet foods that contain these ingredients; most sell pet foods made from human grade ingredients (not waste ingredients) and a variety of feeding options such as kibble, can and raw. Most Independent Pet Stores have a detailed understanding of each ingredient and each brand they carry, where as most grocery stores haven’t a clue about common pet food ingredients.
So again, is Pet Food Myths Part 2 providing pet owning viewers with myth busting information about pet food or is this video simply pet food advertising?
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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