Myth? - preservatives

Myth?
Pet food preservatives are harmful 
This one is cheeky on their statements 
No, not all pet food preservatives are harmful.

*As before - I am in Red
Purina is in Black
Linked information is in Blue*
















Some consumers believe that preservatives are unsafe ingredients that shouldn’t be added to foods for humans or pets.

True, but it should say - some consumers believe that some preservatives are unsafe

•   Some of the FDA-approved synthetic antioxidants commonly used in both human food and pet foods include BHA, BHT and TBHQ. These have been proven safe for use in the approved amounts.

-Purina 

Due to the animal fats used in pet food - it is necessary to use preservatives to stop from spoilage.

Adding preservatives adds to the shelf life of a food.

But - there is no need for artificial preservatives.

'Natural preservatives are usually made from anti-oxidants — like vitamins C or E. You’ll see them printed on a dog food ingredients list using some form of the word “tocopherol” or “ascorbate”.
These items typically look like this…

“…chicken fat preserved with alpha-tocopherol”

Natural preservatives are typically considered safe.'
- Dog Food Adviser 

BHA and BHT can induce allergic reactions in the skin . The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a possible human carcinogen . The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has also listed BHA as a Category 1 priority substance, based on evidence that it interferes with hormone function .
Long-term exposure to high doses of BHT is toxic in mice and rats, causing liver, thyroid and kidney problems and affecting lung function and blood coagulation . BHT can act as a tumour promoter in certain situations . Limited evidence suggests that high doses of BHT may mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, and prevent expression of male sex hormones , resulting in adverse reproductive affects.

- David Suzuki Foundation

Preservatives are added to ensure pet food remains wholesome and nutritious during distribution and storage.

They speak the truth

• Preservatives called antioxidants are added to commercially prepared dry foods to help prevent spoilage and breakdown of nutrients.

Also true

• The preservatives used in Purina® pet foods are the same ones approved by the FDA for use in human foods.

Yup, this is true - the FDA has approved of these possibly cancer causing preservatives 


Fats, proteins and vitamins are the critical nutrients that require preservation during storage.

True

• Fats may break down during storage if not properly preserved.
• Antioxidants guard against oxidative destruction of fat and other nutrients to help preserve the nutritional quality of the food.

True, you guys are on a roll with the truths today. 


Preservatives or antioxidants can be categorized into two basic types: natural antioxidants that are derived from nature and synthetic antioxidants.

• Natural antioxidants are found in certain grains, vegetable oils, herbs and spices.

– The most effective and commonly used natural antioxidants are mixed tocopherols (vitamin E compounds) that are primarily obtained from soybean oil or other vegetable oils.

• Synthetic antioxidants are more effective and stable than natural antioxidants.

– Synthetic antioxidants are 5 to 10 times more effective than natural antioxidants.
– They are more stable and better able to withstand the heat, pressure and moisture used
Though this is also true - the fact is vitamin E is much safer. 
Using a natural preservatives is a better choice.
Using synthetic preservatives is rolling the dice because there are many unanswered questions in regards to the safety of these products.

One thing that is probably very true - using BHA, BHT, TBHQ probably cheaper.

Remember
Given the proper information, you can confidently choose foods for your pets that are properly preserved, safe, and provide the guaranteed nutrient content and quality throughout their shelf life.

That's right folks.
They do not say that theirs is the best food.. or even second best...for once they may have did the best thing..
"Given the proper information"
The proper information is a combination of your own research and your vets knowledge...but don't forget - Nobody should force you to feed a certain brand of food. 
You should always be given options.
If something sounds strange or you just feel that the company is less than trustworthy...research them.
Write them.
Question them.

Color me confused

Myth?

Some consumers believe that food coloring and dyes in pet food cause allergic reactions and gastrointestinal upset in pets. 
-Purina


You know what, lets just skip the bullshit here. 
There is absolutely no need for any food colorings or dyes in pet food  NO NEED

You can try and prove that Dog A and Dog C did not have an allergic reaction to your food. 
You can blame something else for gastrointestinal upset in Cats.
You can call yourself a Fire eating Duck with Machete wings for all I care.
-I may be in a Halloween Monster type of mindset.

You could possibly be idiots if you actually believe a Dog looks at the food and thinks -
 Hmm, I really wish this was red. 
Golly, the green stuff tastes so good.
This brown food is missing something.. I know! Artificial colors!
Human, go buy me some Dog Chow at once!
Blue 2, Yellow 5, Red 40
Dog Chow

• The quality, digestibility and nutrition of the product is unaffected by the use of artificial coloring.

Sometimes things can't get worse then crap.

• Some colors are derived from natural sources, such as beet powder and turmeric.

Interesting - do you use beet powder or turmeric ?
Beet powder is red right? - You use Red 40- that is not Beet powder is it?
Turmeric can make a yellow color - You use Yellow 5 - that is not Turmeric is it?
NO so please tell me your point?

• Small amounts of dyes are used to produce the color.

How about none. 
You can create food without food colorings. You would have to use actual foods for it.

• Food allergies are most commonly caused by proteins. Food colorants are not proteins.

 Actually these are chemicals. 
So I am guessing it would be a chemical allergy?
I do not know.
Since eat dog or cat is different - different breeding, different environment - it is very hard to pin point what the allergens are. 
Goodie for you!

I love this last little notes on your page

Remember
Purina has a long history of producing high-quality, highly nutritious pet foods that are rigorously tested.
-You have been around for a long time, stating that you have a long history of producing high-quality foods needs to be backed up by people that do not benefit by that statement. 
Highly nutritious? 
You thought this was nutritious
While a pet food may contain different colors, the nutrition, quality, safety and palatability of the diet are the standards by which it is measured.
To me that means..yeah there is food coloring but don't worry... we just ignore it.

The Myth and The Meow

Myth?
Carbohydrates cause obesity and diabetes in cats.
-Purina 

It’s now believed that many cases of feline diabetes are caused by excess carbohydrates in the diet.
-ASPCA 

As obligate carnivores, some of the metabolic pathways and

enzymes present in omnivores are redundant in the cat.

Cats’ natural diet is high in animal protein and fat and low in carbohydrate

               - the only carbohydrates eaten being those semi- digested in the gut of their prey.

                                                                       Nestle Purina  

Dude, you said that. 

Replacing dietary carbohydrate with protein appears

to be an effective means of slowing the release of glucose

into the bloodstream.

You guys said that too!

Dr Clémentine Jean-Philippe, DVM, Ph.D

European Scientific Communication Manager

Nestlé PURINA PetCare

Jean-Christophe Bouthegourd, PhD

Research Scientist –

Senior Nutritionist, Nestlé PURINA PetCare Amiens Product Technology Centre

Techincally it was these guys that said it.

I see, European...Cats in North America must be different right?

This is a cute little saying I saw on a web site -
"A cat needs carbohydrates like a fish needs a bicycle"

The same site also states 

 "The best diet advocated for healthy cats is a high-quality meat-based (beef, lamb, chicken, turkey) canned food that contains not more than 3 to 5 percent carbohydrates."

-The Nest

This site talks about what is the best diet for cats - Companions Animal Hospital 

•  Many cells in a cat’s body require glucose, a form of carbohydrate, for energy

"Carbohydrates do provide quick and easy energy. However, it is not 'carbs' that maintain the health of the organs.., but glucose. Glucose can be obtained from both fat and protein through a process known as gluconeogenesis, where amino acids and fat (not fatty acids; those use a different cycle) are "converted" to glucose."

-The Many Myths of Raw Feeding
Carissa Kuehn speaks about the misconceptions in regards to a raw food diet - A pro raw food diet site.

What I have been reading is that the companies who sell pet foods containing carbohydrates  - are the ones trying to pump up the positive aspects of Carbohydrates in a Cats diet. 

The problem - it is simply not true. 

If an animal is meant to eat meat and we try to change their biological and evolutionary diet - we will cause damage. 

We have caused damage. 

Illnesses that a Cat in the wild would never face are now common.

We have taken these creatures out of the wild and now are trying to force them to comply to our theory on what they should be eating. 

Not because we think it is best for them.

No.

Because it is cheaper. 

Because the profit margin is more important than their health. 

The truth is - yes, it is possible for a cat to eat carbohydrates.

Yes these Carbohydrates can be converted into glucose.

Yes they can survive on a diet that has moderate amount of Carbohydrates. 

My point is - should they?

Is it beneficial for them?

Are we putting their needs first?

No.

Myth or Fact time again..

I am in Red
Purina in Black
Other information in Blue
Another 'Myth'?

Animal digest is often considered a substandard pet food ingredient. In some cases, this is because the word “digest” is mistakenly thought to describe the contents of the digestive tract.
-Purina 


What is Animal Digest then?

AAFCO Definition:

Animal Digest: Material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed.



That's awesome.
So what is this used for?
A flavour?

Wouldn't using actual meat give it a meat flavour?

You do what with it?
You spray it on kibble?

So on the pet food bag it can be listed as Animal Digest, Added Flavour, Natural Flavour, Chicken Flavour..but only if you actually know it was chicken to begin with.

Was it chicken?
Or was it road kill?
Don't know for sure?
Sure it could be all those non horrible things you listed on your site. 
But chances are higher that it would be bottom of the barrel
Which might actually be correct because it is a big barrel of slurry.
That is your unknown animal sources. From dead Zoo animals to euthanized pets.

You can be proud about using Animal Digest if you want.
I wouldn't be proud - I would be wealthy....but probably ashamed of myself.

• The word “digest” in “animal digest” refers to the digestive process used in production, not the ingredients.

True - if you think it is using the digestive tract or already digested food then you may be wrong.
I say may - because those things could be in there - the word is just not meant to signify the use of it.

In the wild, an animal gets some of its carbohydrates from the already pre digested foods inside their prey.
A cat gets this from a mouse - for example.
Digestion starts breaking apart the proteins and since Fluffy does not have the ability to pre digest something like - Corn - they use their prey to do it for them - then they eat the prey.
The mouse starts the process - The cat finishes it.

This does not need to happen with animal proteins - both dogs and cats are meant to eat these things - it is much healthier for them to get the starting item.. not the processed, paste or powder that is left after off this nonsense.

• The process starts with animal protein such as muscle and soft tissue supplied by USDA-inspected facilities.

It can, it probably doesn't in these cases.
Since both a cat and dog can digest muscle and soft tissue - there is no need for this action. Unless.. doing so allows companies to put in basically a blender - all of the left over things that are wasted money! No waste!!
Grocery store has some spoiled meat? Throw it in.
Animal control just went through a mass euthanization? - There's still room in the barrel.
City lack space for all the scooped up road kill?
Hey over here!

You guys know we can't say this is meat right?
Why not?
Well if we leave it as it is - and they find reason to test it....
Ahh yeah, they would have a hard time figuring out heads from tails with a paste.
Then we could package it and I bet you we will make more money this way. If it is in a powder it will last longer. 
We don't have to refrigerate a powder.
Think of the savings!
Is it bad for them though?
For who? Us? no!
No for the animals.
What do they care, they are already dead.
The pets! The dogs and cats that we are feeding this to?
How would I know, do I look like a vet?
No, but that is a fantastic suit.

- That is just me having a made up conversation with made up people.

• These ingredients are hydrolyzed or “digested” to break down the animal protein into peptides in a manner similar to digestion in the body.

We covered this - why not let the animals do the digesting instead of a factory?

• The resulting digest is in a liquid, but can also be made into a paste or powder. 

Why does that make me think of this

• Animal digest is extremely palatable and is an excellent source of high-quality protein.

Is that what the guy selling it told you?
You may have been bamboozled.
Though the first part is probably true. 
In a powdered or sprayed form it may provide an aroma and taste that drives animals crazy - Of course... there are a few people that could probably state their Dog finds the litter box just as tempting. 
Please explain to me how what was once meat - and is now nameless powder - can be considered 'high quality'. Who sets this standard?
If you say - According to Pet Food Institute - That means nothing. 
You and the other large companies construct PFI. It's 'Big Pet Food' - similar to 'Big Pharma'


You've heard of the golden rule, haven't you? Whoever has the gold makes the rules!

• It’s often used in small amounts to enhance the taste of dry pet foods.

I can understand using Truffles in small amounts (Fungus type food - not for pets)
Very expensive 
I can understand using Saffron in small amounts  (Spice- not for pet foods)
Rare - very expensive 
I can absolutely understand using Wasabi in small amounts (Green Fire- not for pets)
It can be very hot

Using animal digest - which you state is a high quality protein - in such small amounts just does not make sense?
If it is so good then why not use more?
Why not use it as a something more then for flavour?

• Spraying animal digest on kibble or mixing it with the food significantly increases palatability.

Could that be because your food starts off tasting like corn?
I have never tried it myself - and have no intentions of every trying it
You can not really make grains taste like meat - well you can.. 
Yes you can because you did.
Good job at hiding the evidence.. ?
Just saying..






 Simpsons Image

Another so called Myth - By-Products are poor quality ingredients

By-Products are poor quality ingredients.
Myth?
Purina would like you to believe it is. 
Okay, lets take a look.
**************
My comments will be in red
Purina in Black
Linked information in Blue

•  A by-product is any ingredient that is produced
 or left over when some other product or ingredient is made. Purina Pro Club

• An incidental or secondary product made in the manufacture or synthesis of something else. Oxford Dictionary

•  Something that is produced during the production or destruction of something else. Merriam Webster

•  Output other than the principal product(s) of an industrial process, such as sawdust or woodchips generated in processing lumber. Unlike joint-products, byproducts have low value in comparison with the principal product(s) and may be discarded or sold either in their original state, or after further processing. Business Dictionary 

*By-Products have low value in comparison with the principal product.
Of course it does - you are starting off with something like an Apple for example. 
The fruit part is used for a pie - the skin and core are the By Product. 
Except we are not talking about apples - we are talking about animal carcases.

You start off with lets say a Cow
Hi Mr Moo
  

See the Grey areas? The ones marked Waste. 
That is what is left after all the human consumable food has been removed. 
Sorry, that and all of the innards, skeleton and some organs.



By-products (for example, chicken by-products or beef by-products): clean non-rendered "parts", other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, blood, bone, fatty tissue and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels "high" (although not high quality) while keeping food production costs low.  Pet MD

• Broths and gelatin are examples of meat by- products in human foods.

That is true, but they are not generally used in pet foods are they?
No.. That is interesting that you would mention those two items. 
Are they a staple in your pet foods?
What? No? Ah.. so they just sound better then Boiled Bones and Boiled Skin. 
One more thing, I don't think 'meat by-products' are used in many human foods. 
That is an un-named meat source. They may use Beef By-Products, or Chicken By-Products..but 'meat' well that could be anything from a cow to a cat. 

• By-products in pet foods that meet Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines come from clean animal parts other than meat, such as liver, kidneys and other organs.

Such as - but why would you not just call it Beef Liver? 
Cuz you can't. 
Cuz all of these items are not sold singularly to become by-products. They are mixed together right?
Beef By-Product is all the non meats parts of a cow allowed - mixed together. 
Meat By-Products are all non meat items tangled together in a big sloppy mess.  

I wish people didn't dance around calling crap something other than crap.

•  Purina purchases all by-products from USDA- inspected plants. They must meet stringent criteria for nutrient content, production and quality assurance.

Where else would you buy these things from? The back of a van?
Of course it starts off as an inspected animal-  that seems to be the norm. 
Does food unfit for human consumption still get inspected to meet stringent criteria for nutrient content, production and quality assurance?
What happens when you guys get it?
Forgive me for not feeling a warm fuzzy feeling about your company.

• Muscle meat is deficient in many nutrients, including calcium, other minerals and vitamins. Many of these missing nutrients are abundant in meat by-products or poultry by-products.

How do the other companies manage to find this missing nutrients ?

• By-products are also an excellent source of protein and amino acids.

So are Non By-Products.

• For example, poultry by-product meal contains 60% to 70% protein and can be highly digestible.

Can be? Well if you can't digest powder then you might be in trouble. 
I wonder how much is in Chicken Meal?
Does the quality of the meat matter? I think it may...

Think about a cat in the wild...it is not going to  look at a mouse and think a powdered version would be better..or even just as good.

I really wish animals could talk - then we could let them tell off the companies that are putting profit before quality. 
They can tell the companies that no meal product can ever be better then the initial raw product. 
Taking a bunch of crap and grinding it together - then rendering it only provides you with a high protein pot of powdered crap.
Just saying...

Because they said so?

But they said it's a myth?

Taken directly from the Purina Pro website

Purina says -

Grain-free diets are healthier.
It’s a myth
Many pet owners believe that grain-free pet foods are easier to digest, provide pets with better nutrition and are less likely to cause allergies than pet foods containing grain.

-Purina 

********
I will colour my comments in blue -I would not want anyone to think this is something I would ever say.

Information that I will link from other sites will appear in Brown and Green
********
I am one of those silly pet owners that believe in the grain free hype.

Can they change my mind?

......highly unlikely.

But let's pretend that I know nothing about pet food or cats in general. 

I will read what everyone has to say , look at their research and figure out fact from fiction.

*******
Properly processed grains are highly digestible.

• While uncooked grains are poorly digested by dogs and cats, (In general - Uncooked grains are poorly digested by everyone. Grains are made to last from season to season - they have evolved to last this way. So they have to be soaked and allowed to sprout or cracked, flaked, popped, puffed or ground.)  properly cooked grains in pet foods are highly digestible.   

 But are they meant to fed in high quantities to Fido and Fluffy?

"In the wild, your cat would be eating a high protein, high-moisture, meat/organ-based diet, with a moderate level of fat and with only  approximately 1-2 percent of her diet consisting of carbohydrates. The average dry food contains 35-50 percent carbohydrate calories.  Some of the cheaper dry foods contain even higher levels."
-Catinfo

• Dogs and cats can digest the carbohydrates from grains with an efficiency of greater than 90%

Good for them - should they?
Because there is a certain enzyme which Cats and Dogs actually lack -Amylase in their Saliva - This enzyme aids in the digestion of Carbohydrates  

 

 'During digestion, carbohydrates start out as polysaccharides, which are large starch molecules that are broken down into disaccharides, which are two, linked-sugar molecules. Disaccharides are then further broken down into even smaller simple sugars, known as monosaccharides that are then absorbed into the blood so that the body can then use them.'

When you start chewing,(cats tend to inhale their dry food) food is mechanically broken down into smaller pieces. You also produce saliva, which contains amylase that mixes with your food ( But Fluffy can not do this part). Amylase is a digestive enzyme that chewing activates and which hydrolyzes or breaks downs starch into monosaccharides. Amylase breaks down starch in your mouth into a maltose, a disaccharide, which is made up of two glucose molecules. 

-Role of Amylase in Digestion

 "Most mammals produce amylase in the saliva, but dogs and cats do not. This reflects their expected diet of meat and organs from prey. Herbivores and omnivores have flat molars that crush and chew food, but the carnivore’s dentition is perfectly designed to capture and kill prey, and to rip and tear meat from bone. Carnivores don’t spend much time chewing; nor do they consume many carbohydrates, so there is no need for amylase in the mouth." 

 -Digestive Enzymes 

 

 

 Diets containing grains provide excellent nutrition.
In general yes - For Fluffy and Fido? No

• Grains are carbohydrates, which are an important source of energy.

That's fantastic, if only our pets could use them for that.

• Grains also contain fiber, which supports gastrointestinal health and decreases the total fat and calories in a diet.

Fiber is good

• Essential fatty acids and other nutrients in grains contribute to a healthy skin and coat.
• Concentrated protein sources from grains, such as corn gluten meal, can be highly digestible sources of many essential amino acids

Cats do not have a dietary requirement for carbohydrates.  The metabolic requirement for glucose in the cat is derived from protein (glucogenic amino acids) and fat (glycerol).  Cats are adapted to a protein- fat-rich, carbohydrate-poor diet. -Feline Nutrition 


Grains are unlikely to cause allergies.

• Less than 1% of dogs are sensitive to grains.

How do you know that? seriously when was this study done? can I see it?

• True food allergies are caused by immune reactions to proteins in the diet.

I agree - and you must know that your grains and plants also contain protein

• Allergies to proteins in grains can occur, but are far less common than allergies to other protein sources, such as beef or dairy.

It seems as though the current knowledge on allergies is lacking. If a vet gives bag of 'hypoallergenic' pet food - chances are that if it was a food allergy it will go away.

This is because they hydrolyze the protein - basically they break it down till it can not produce any sort of immune reaction.  ******
Here is Purina HA dry cat food ingreidents 

Rice starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, partially hydrogenated canola oil preserved with TBHQ, hydrolyzed chicken liver, tricalcium phosphate, powdered cellulose, corn oil, hydrolyzed chicken, sodium bisulfate, DL-Methionine, potassium chloride, choline chloride, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, phosphoric acid, salt, guar gum, taurine, lecithin, magnesium oxide, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, citric acid, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, BHA (a preservative), riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

 

 

 

 Here is Royal Canin Hypoallergenic dry cat food ingredients

Brewer's Rice, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Powdered Cellulose, Vegetable Oil, Dried Beet Pulp, Monocalcium Phosphate (source Of Vitamin C), Fish Oil, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Silico Aluminate, Salt, Taurine, DL-alpha Tocopherol Acetate (source Of Vitamin E), Inositol, Niacin Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, D-calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (vitamin B1), Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, DL-methionine, Marigold Extract (Tagetes Erecta L.), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite And Rosemary Extract (preserved With Natural Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid)

                                                   

 

                        

   Here is Science Diet ZD dry cat food ingredients

 Brewers Rice, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Hydrolyzed Chicken, Soybean Oil, Powdered Cellulose, Lactic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement , Folic Acid), Taurine, Iodized Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors.

 

*****************

Your pet can not live off of those diets. 

Those companies are making money off of your animals needs - needs that are more than likely caused by foods like theirs in the first place. 

I do not believe any of these foods to be a good option. 

There are other options.

Limited Ingredient Foods can give you a good start in finding a culprit  - btw if your pet does well on those food you can stay on them! 

Stop messing around with your pets health. 

 

It is very hard for me to believe anything that Purina has to say. 

If they did not profit so highly off of their grain filled foods - then maybe I would start to listen.

If feeding a good grain free high meat protein from a named source was cheap then chances are everyone would be on the grain free train. 

But it's not.

It may even be cheaper to create a anti grain free propaganda based website ...

Just saying...

As always - these are just my opinions - it is important to not believe everything you read - think about what that person has to profit off of what they are saying?

What do I have to profit?..well it does give me a warm fuzzy feeling to think an animal may suffer less because someone read a post of mine - decided to do their own reading and found a way for Fluffy and Fido to feel better in less time...with less undue stress on their bodies. 

Pet Food Ingredients - XYZ

XYZ

X-ray

Yankee

Zulu

Me?

No not you Zulu.

Oh.. 

There are no interesting xyz food items to talk about - that I have not already covered in other posts.

So what should I do instead?

How about comparing 3 major brand bags of cat food?

Hills Ideal Balance

Purina One Beyond
 







Orijen
-all grain free
-all fish type

 

Ingredients
Hills Ideal Balance

Salmon, Potatoes, Pea Protein Concentrate, Yellow Peas, Chicken Fat, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Natural Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Vegetable & fruit blend (Green Peas, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli)

 

Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Iodized Salt, Taurine

 

Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement)

 

Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors.

Ingredients:

Purina One Beyond

Ocean whitefish, chicken meal, pea protein, pea starch, cassava root flour, dried egg product, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, dried yeast, canola meal, pea fiber, natural liver flavor, dried sweet potatoes

Phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, salt, sodium bisulfate, choline chloride, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, calcium carbonate, 

Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

Ingredients:
Orijen 

Whole salmon*, whole herring*, salmon meal, herring meal, Pollock meal, whole flounder*, boneless walleye*, boneless northern pike*, boneless lake whitefish*, salmon oil, herring oil, chickpeas, red lentils, green lentils, green peas, pea fiber, canola oil, sun-cured alfalfa, pumpkin*, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, mixed tocopheral.

Choline Chloride, Vitamin A, vitamin D3, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, Sodium Selenite.

*delivered fresh


It may be an unfair match up. 

Hills Ideal Balance, Purina Beyond, Orijen 

So two brands that I highly dislike and one brand that I can not get. 

I think it is a great match up - it shows you the difference between a company that will not expand its operations just to make more money - and two that would probably run over a reindeer for 5 bucks. 

I have not tried any of these foods personally. 

Meaning none of the cats or foster cats have tried any - I would probably never actually eat cat food. 


So here we go !

Round 1 - Best Protein

In round 1 we have 

Hills - Ideal balance - Grain Free - Salmon & Potato - Adult Cat


Protein: 33%
Fat:      23%
Carb:    35.7%
Fiber:    0.9%


10 to 15 lb Cat to eat - 3/8 to 3/4 cup  - A Day
First Ingredient - Salmon
Main Ingredient - Peas



Purina - Beyond - Grain Free - Whitefish & Egg - Cat


Protein: 35% - Min
Fat: 14% - Min
Carb: - not listed
Fiber: 4% - Max

10 to 14 lb Cat to eat - 2/3 to 1 cup - A Day
First Ingredient - Ocean Whitefish
Main Ingredient - Peas


Orijen - Six Fish - Cat

Protein: 42%
Fat: 20%
Carb: - not listed
Fiber: - 3%

9 to 13lb Cat to eat - 1/2 to 2/3 cup - A Day
First Ingredient - Salmon
Main Ingredient - Salmon/Herring - Fish (Named)

*****************
Winner of Round 1 - With 42% Protein - non plant protein 

round one goes to Orijen
*****************

Round 2 - Most informative Website 

Hills

• "We make every bag of our dry dog and cat food in our own U.S. facilities with the highest quality natural ingredients from North America and Europe"

• There is an abundance of information available on the Hills website

• Pet Health Questions to ask your vet - not the answers... its what you would bring to the vet and ask them. 

• If you have any questions the will provide you with the right direction - to their food.

• They have special offers
• A large amount of different available products

Purina 

• "95% of Beyond^® products are made in our own factories, all located here in the United States."
• Offers a product comparison  - sort of - limited to what they have already picked to compare.
• Not a lot of useless information - on the Beyond site - the linked Purina site - has a vast amount of information.
• They state Honesty In Pet Food - claiming to aid in helping pet owners understand the myths and truths of their product. 
• You can chat with a pet adviser right from the website

Orijen

• They state that they never outsource their ingredients

• If you want to know where their ingredients are from - Meet their farmers 
• They do not offer a wide variety of items - Just a few foods - and a few treats
• Impressive awards 

• Information is minimal - but useful - explaining Biologically Appropriate foods 

*****************

Winner of Round 2 - with an almost endless amount of information

Round 2 goes to Purina 

*****************

(though personally I do not want or need most of their information)

Round 3 - Over all quality for Cat

Would I feed it?

What about their other products, would I feed them?

Ignoring personal preference - and personal dislike - name one bad and one good thing about each company 

Hills 

•  No I would not feed this to my cats - but I have before (prescription)
• I would probably not feed any Hills products to my pets based on personal preference
• Good thing - They have fantastic marketing skills
• Bad thing - They have fantastic marketing skills

 

Purina 

• No I would not feed this to my cats - but I have previously 
• I would probably not feed and Purina products to my pets because I highly dislike the company in general 
• Good thing - They have been around for a very long time
• Bad thing - They seem to spend more money are marketing then making a better product 

Orijen

• Yes I would feed this to my cats
• I would feed Orijen products to my pets 
• Good thing - They make Biologically Appropriate pet food
• Bad thing - Availability - smaller company 

 

**************

Winner Round 3 - Over all Quality 

round 3 goes to Orijen

**************

Winning round 1 and 3 makes 

 

Orijen the over all winner

In reality this comparison was not all that equal - it was like comparing Apples to Pop Tarts.