Where's the Meat in my Pets Food?

 by: Fred Ege

Today we hear all the Whole-Health buzzwords like functional foods, nutraceutical, organic, natural and holistic ingredients. Every natural, holistic, and organic ingredient we use has been researched for safety and efficacy. Natural, Whole-Health Holistic ingredients in our formulas use meat as the first ingredient because cats and dogs are primarily carnevors. All meats have different grades depending on the source, look for the best sources for your pets.

Regular meat meals are cooked to almost burning temperatures at many manufacturers, which greatly reduces nutrient values. They do this to increase the production speed, and then add back nutrients near the end of their process. We use moderate temperatures to insure that the natural nutrients aren't destroyed in the manufacturing process.

THE VERY BEST CHICKEN, PORK, LAMB, FISH AND DUCK

Our Chicken Meal originates in facilities handling chicken for our dinner table. Our Chicken Meal is antibiotic free and has no added hormones. It is an excellent source of Omega 6 fatty acids, a natural coat and skin conditioner.

Pork is the most consumed meat in the world. Pork Meal digestibility is second only to Fish Meal and far more digestible than beef. Fat levels are about the same as our fish meal. Our Pork Meal comes from facilities preparing meat for your dinner table, and is shipped fresh. Parasites are non-existent in the U.S. hog industry today. Pork Meal, unlike bacon, is very low in nitrates. Pork Meal is an expensive ingredient so you seldom see it in other pet food brands. It is a hypoallergenic ingredient. It has an excellent amino acid and Omega fatty acid profile.

Lamb Meal is imported. The sheep are free range and grass fed. Lamb Meal is a hypoallergenic ingredient and is used in several of our hypoallergenic formulas. Lamb is also a very lean meat.

Anchovy and Sardine Meals used in our formulas are harvested from pure, cold, Antarctic Ocean waters and put on ice. We buy a special premium grade that is cooked at moderate temperatures. Our darker fleshed fish are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, so beneficial to coat and skin health. “Whitefish” (not used in our formulas), is a generic name for a number of species of white fish used in some brands. The species will vary bag-to-bag, formula-to-formula. They have minimal Omega 3 fatty acid levels. Most fish meals are preserved with ethoxyquin; our meal is preserved naturally.

Duck Meal is a protein rich, hypoallergenic meal, imported from Europe. If you appreciate the natural, holistic approach to nutrition, you will appreciate how these ducks are raised. Use of medications of any kind are highly unusual. No hormones are added.

WHY THREE DIFFERENT MEAT SOURCES?

The benefit of three animal protein sources is that there is less protein from any one source and therefore less chance of an allergic reaction, or at least a less severe reaction, to any specific protein in the diet. Allergies are caused primarily by the protein content of an ingredient. Fats have no protein content. Thus, a pet could be allergic to chicken, but not chicken fat. Beef is not used in any of our dry formulas because it has been found that along with wheat, pets have developed allergies.

WE DON'T DILUTE OUR MEAT INGREDIENTS WITH WATER.

We use a very concentrated form of meats known as meals, which are 11 times more protein-concentrated than "meat". Foods that list "real chicken/beef" or chicken/beef first include the water weight in this ingredient. Chicken/beef in this form consists of 70% water. Other manufacturers count the weight of the water, and lists chicken first. With the water removed, your pet is getting 70% less "chicken" than you were led to believe, and it is probably the fourth or fifth ingredient.

NO GENERIC WHITEFISH.

Used in some brands, "Whitefish" is not a specific fish species. Merriam-Webster dictionary and the human and pet food industry define Whitefish as "any of various market fishes with white flesh that is not oily". Brands using this less expensive, generic fish will not be consistent, bag-to-bag. Whitefish is usually preserved with ethoxyquin. The meat filleted from the carcass goes into the human food chain...the head and carcass go into other brands of pet food.