Kansas City, MO is hosting a huge pet food event (an event that won’t allow consumer advocates to attend). The event is full of pet food industry representatives learning how to better sell their feeds, how to make more money. And they are talking about us.
Pet Food Forum is a massive pet food industry trade event that occurs each year. Ingredient suppliers, supplement suppliers, pet food manufacturing equipment suppliers, and just about every ingredient or product involved in the manufacture of pet food is there. The one aspect of pet food that isn’t allowed to be there is consumers or a consumer advocate. We are considered a conflict of interest (or perhaps they simple don’t want us to learn their tricks of the trade) and have been refused admission to the event.
Even though we are not welcome at Pet Food Forum (at a cost of nearly $2,000.00), they certainly talk about us…a lot.
In a news post from the Pet Food Forum, PetFoodIndustry.com reports “Consider sensory testing as one of the ways to figure out what pets and owners really like.” Kadri Koppel, PhD, assistant professor at Kansas State University gave a presentation for attendees about the “smell, texture, taste and other sensations” of pet food. She told the crowd “pet food characteristics, pets’ reactions and owners’ observations make up a triangle of influences on whether a pet food succeeds in the market.” “In the competitive pet food market, the advancing science of sensory analysis can give brands an advantage.” (Because what “succeeds in the market” is most important to (most in) industry, not quality food – not quality nutrition.)
In another update from the Pet Food Forum event, PetFoodIndustry.com tells us a Family Feud type game was played where industry representatives guessed what were the most popular consumer answers to questions. “In playing Pets Family Feud, contestants learned that this strong pet humanization sentiment translates directly into the expectations consumers have for the pet food they buy.”
“Playing in teams, Pet Family Feud participants were educated more about pet food product characteristics and ingredients that consumers find desirable and those that they avoid when purchasing.”
Go ahead pet food industry, watch us closely. Watch us continue to move away from highly processed, recycled waste ingredient pet feed. Watch us ignore your marketing tricks. Watch us buy pet foods that are free of GMO’s and ingredients from China. Watch us fully support pet food companies that are transparent. And watch us continue to share everything we learn about pet food with every pet owner we know (even though you try so hard for us NOT to learn).
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
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The 2017 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here
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CK
April 6, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Thanks to you, Susan, I learned “The Truth about Pet Food,” found Honest Kitchen and switched from Science Diet (which isn’t the worst but certainly not the best) and never looked back. My pets are shiny and healthy. I think even my lab who has severe dysplasia is doing better than he would have if I had not switched. I appreciate you so much!
Keller
April 6, 2017 at 4:42 pm
I agree with CK completely. It was you who educated me more than any other person or website. It was your list that introduced me to Honest Kitchen and made me switch from Fromm and I’ve never looked back. When people come to me for info on dog food, I give them as much reading info as I can and then rave about how wonderful Honest Kitchen is and how great it is for a dog’s health and well being, as well as encouraging them to learn more from your website.
We lost our three long-time companions and have had our daughter’s sato dog from Puerto Rico for a year. She LOVES Honest Kitchen Preference, where we add the meat or poultry or fish ourselves. It’s expensive and includes a bit of work, but to see this girl thrive is worth it. I, too, appreciate you so much and am so glad that I stumbled onto your website.
soozyb2013
April 6, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Its a game alright, one that none of our pets actually win. I think it’s shameful that the big companies have to hide behind closed doors, proof right there that they are hiding stuff!!! Duh, what do they think we are, stupid?!?! Thanks Susan for all you do, keep up the great work.
joan johnston
April 6, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Grrrrrrrr
Darcy Flynn
April 6, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Of course Susan is the best advocate for our pets and their food. No doubt. I was just made aware of Planet Paws and Rodney Habib. There is a simple, very easy recipe for dog food we can make at home, no big deal, no great expense, and hits all the daily requirements. I wish the average person realized how easy it is to make your own good food since the disreputable dog food companies refuse to change. I’ve tried different vet’s recipes that are out there in print and they offer lots of choices, but lots of supplements as well and not easy for a working mom to manage. Susan, if you have a minute I’d love your input???? Rodney seems to have done his homework.
Susan Thixton
April 6, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Rodney is WONDERFUL. I just wrote about his website (he used to be solely on Facebook).
Debi
April 6, 2017 at 6:50 pm
I love the last paragraph in this article, I so hope that we all make our dog’s foods or find a food that is not CRAP, I stand with Susan. Right PFI, try to “figure us out”, and good luck with all of your CRAP that is, no doubt, killing or harming dogs and cats daily, please eat it yourselves.
Keller
April 7, 2017 at 8:08 pm
“Please eat it yourself…” I love it! What’s bad for the dog is good for the robber baron!
Anthony Hepton.
April 6, 2017 at 7:34 pm
To just who do they think they are selling their products? If they do not want their customers to be in on their discussions, they will create doubt on every level. An honest manufacturer usually looks for input from their customers so they can increase sales by meeting customers expectation, but not the pet food industry, their strategy is finding out how to deceive their customers with slick advertising and inferior ingredients. If the ingredients include ANY products of rendering, walk way from the product, it is adulterated and being sold in violation of FDA’s own regulations.
Sharon
April 7, 2017 at 6:50 am
It’s going on 25 years thst we’ve not fed anything out of a bag or a can to my dogs! I will continue to send people to the Truth About Pet Food to become educated on what they are feeding… and many thanks to you Susan for being the champion in the for all of us.
Terri Christenson Janson
April 7, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Susan you have also taught me the truth about pet food. I’ve belonged to your site for several years now and I also love Rodney Habib as well. I have homecooked for around 5 years now. Love that “they” are watching us!! 🙂
Kevin Murphy
April 14, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Can you post some recipes
Kevin Murphy
April 14, 2017 at 1:41 pm
I have a site on messenger called PET LOVERS we are not very big but we love our pets! We would love to talk with all of you. We need to know what you know