Response to Consumer Reports

In the February 1998 issue, Consumer Reports rated brands of dog and cat food. This response was authored by by Linda Case, Lecturer In Companion Animal Science, Department of Animal Science, at the University of Illinois, to help shelter workers and volunteers answer questions from the public on the issues raised by the article.

Suggestions for staff and volunteers at the Humane Society

Question:
The CR article says that feeding a less expensive food provides the same nutrition to my dog or cat as the premium foods. I am considering switching my pet to either 'Ol Roy or Kroger's food, Pet Pride. Should I?

Suggested Response:
CR rated pet foods only on palatability (whether or not the dog or cat would eat the food); and on cost per unit weight. Their "palatability trials" consisted of CR staff member's dogs and cats, and did not follow accepted procedures for testing. Moreover, they used a very small number of animals. Owners should realize that even the most indigestible, imbalanced and poor quality pet food can be made to be palatable or "tasty" to pets. (Pet food manufacturers spray fats and certain types of protein-products onto the outside of the food, making it very tasty to dogs and cats).

Therefore, "tastiness" alone does not provide any information about the quality of the food. Secondly, the costs that the CR article compared were prices per unit weight of the foods and feeding volumes that were recommended on the label. Low priced foods, such as private label and generic products, are much less digestible than premium foods. The end result of feeding these foods is that MORE food must be fed to meet the dog or cat's needs. This also means an increased amount of feces (and gas production), and poor stool formation (i.e lose stools or even diarrhea). If you compare pet foods according to serving size (or how much you actually need to feed to meet a pet's needs), the price difference often completely disappears because lower volumes of premium foods are fed.

Question:
CR says that there are two drawbacks to AAFCO feeding trials as the standard for guaranteeing pet foods. One is that the trials are too short, and the second is that not all foods are tested. Does this mean that I should select a grocery store brand or Safeway's brand because they use the Nutrient Profiles rather than a premium brand which test their foods with feeding trials?

Suggested Response:
CR was in error on several counts. First, the trials for complete and balanced nutrition are carried out for pregnancy, lactation (milk production) and the rearing of puppies and kittens. These are very stressful periods of life and represent times that nutrient needs are high. Foods that pass feeding trials are therefore capable of providing optimal nutrition during the most stressful periods of life. Secondly, premium pet food companies all formulate their foods to BOTH meet the nutrient profiles and pass feeding studies (even though this is not officially required by AAFCO). In contrast generic products and private label brands may be formulated to meet the profiles but they may not have ever been fed to a dog or cat! CR failed to note this important difference in their article.

Regarding the use of pet food "families": This is a regulation that is currently under consideration and has not yet been accepted into practice. Manufacturers that are using families are doing so without AAFCO sanctioning. If (and when) this occurs, pet food manufacturers will be required to ensure that the pet food in a family with the least chance of meeting standards is tested, ensuring that all members are nutritionally complete. Most importantly - manufacturers of all premium foods test all of their products (unlike generic products and private label products).

Question:
I like to donate food to CCHS. Should I donate a generic or private label instead of a premium food?

Suggested Response:
No. CCHS still prefers that you donate premium foods such as Iams, Eukanuba or Science Diet. Regardless of the CR report, it is a fact that these foods contain ingredients that are of higher quality, are more digestible and more easily assimilated than private label and generic foods such as 'Ol Roy, Pet Pride or American Fare (K-Mart). Many of the dogs and cats at CCHS arrive at the shelter in poor condition, under stress, or are recovering from illness. Therefore, we want to provide them with the best nutrition possible during their stay at the shelter. (An added benefit of these foods is that they allow easier clean-up of the kennels and also contribute to cleaner, less smelly runs and cages for the animals).

Question:
CR said that several of the premium products are low in potassium. Is this true? Should I not feed these products?

Suggested Response: CR is printing a retraction of many of these points. It is important to know that CR did not follow standard industry procedures when measuring nutrients, nor did they allow pet food manufacturers to be involved in any of their testing. Iams and other companies have disputed their findings and stand by the nutritional adequacy of their products.

Linda P. Case
Lecturer, Companion Animals
Department of Animal Sciences, University of IL
1207 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-0625
lcase@uiuc.edu

Pet Library On-line