A supermarket's pet food aisle in Brooklyn, New York
Cat food in a bowl.

Pet food is animal feed intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food. Most meat used for animals is a byproduct of the human food industry, and is not regarded as "human grade".[1]

In 2019, the world pet food market was valued at US$87.08 billion and is projected to grow to US$113.2 billion by the year 2024.[2] The pet food market is dominated by five major companies, as of 2020: Mars, Inc., Nestle Purina Petcare, J. M. Smucker, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. (owned by Colgate-Palmolive), and Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd (owned by General Mills).[2]

Industry

In the United States, pet-food sales in 2016 reached an all-time high of $28.23 billion.[3] Mars is the leading company in the pet food industry, making about $17 billion annually in pet-care products.[4] Online sales of pet food are increasing and contributing to this growth. Online sales in the US increased 15 percent in 2015.[5] Worldwide, the compound annual growth rate of pet food purchased online was more than 25% between 2013 and 2018.[6] As of 2015, the U.S. leads the world in pet-food spending.[7]

Impact and sustainability

Given the carnivorous diets fed to many pets (especially cats and dogs), involving the consumption of an estimated fifth of the world's meat and fish, the impact of pet-food production on climate change, other environmental impacts and land-use becomes an issue.[8][9][10]

A 2023 review on the topic indicates adequate vegan diets, which are more sustainable, would not have adverse impacts on the health of pet dogs and cats.[11] There also is research on insect-based pet food.[12]

A life-cycle analysis of contemporary pet foods suggests wet foods for cats and dogs tend to have a larger impact than dry foods.[9] It also suggests there are substantial opportunities for improvement in "all phases of the pet food life cycle, including formulation, ingredient selection, manufacturing processes" and so on.[9]

Like humans, dogs are omnivores.[13][14][15][16] As of 2018, there are around 470 million pet dogs and around 370 million pet cats according to Statista[17] and as of 2022 the population of pets tends to increase.[10]

Several upstarts exist, aiming to reduce the impact of pet food, including Edgard & Cooper. Others include Vegepet, who make vegan pet food substitues.

Fish food

Fish foods normally contain macronutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish exclusively prepared foods that most commonly are produced in flake, pellet or tablet form.[18] Pelleted forms, some of which sink rapidly, are often used for larger fish or bottom-feeding species such as loaches or catfish.[19] Some fish foods also contain additives, such as beta carotene or sex hormones, to artificially enhance the color of ornamental fish.

Bird food

Bushtits eating suet from a bird feeder

Bird foods are used both in birdfeeders and to feed pet birds. It typically consist of a variety of seeds. However, not all birds eat seeds. Nectar (essentially sugar water) attracts hummingbirds.[20]

Cat food

Cat with a bowl of pelleted cat food.

Cats are obligate carnivores, though most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats, in particular containing the amino acid taurine, as cats cannot thrive on taurine-deficient food.[21] Optimal levels of taurine for cat food have been established by the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition.[22]

Dog food

Recommendations differ on what diet is best for dogs. Some people argue dogs have thrived on leftovers and scraps from their human owners for thousands of years, and commercial dog foods (which have only been available for the past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, and other ingredients dogs should not ingest, or that commercial dog food is not nutritionally sufficient for their dogs. Many commercial brands are formulated using insights gained from scientific nutritional studies.[23]

Raw feeding

Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic dogs, cats and other animals a diet consisting primarily of uncooked meat, edible bones, and organs. The ingredients used to formulate raw diets can vary. Some pet owners choose to make home-made raw diets to feed their animals, but commercial raw food diets are also available. Veterinary associations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, British Veterinary Association and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have warned of the animal and public health risk that could arise from feeding raw meat to pets and have stated that there is no scientific evidence to support the claimed benefits of raw feeding.[24][25]

The practice of feeding raw diets has raised some concerns due to the risk of food borne illnesses, zoonosis and nutritional imbalances.[26] People who feed their dogs raw food do so for a multitude of reasons, including but not limited to: culture, beliefs surrounding health, nutrition and what is perceived to be more natural for their pets.[27] Feeding raw food can be perceived by owners as allowing the pet to stay in touch with their wild, carnivorous ancestry.[27] The raw food movement has occurred in parallel to the change in human food trends for more natural and organic products.[28]

Feeding human foods to animals

Prepared foods and some raw ingredients may be toxic for animals, and care should be taken when feeding animals leftover food. It is known that the following foods are potentially unsafe for cats, dogs and pigs:

Generally, cooked and marinated foods should be avoided, as well as sauces and gravies, which may contain ingredients that, although well tolerated by humans, may be toxic to animals. Xylitol, an alternative sweetener found in chewing gum and baked goods designed for diabetics, is highly toxic to cats, dogs, and ferrets.[31][32]

Labeling and regulation

United States

In the United States and its associated territories, all pet food is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It is further regulated at the state level.[33] State Department of Agriculture officials, major feed manufacturers, and ingredient suppliers form the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a non-government agency that establishes guidelines and standards on feed laws and regulations. Although government officials do comprise a large portion of AAFCO, it has no regulatory authority and acts simply as an advisory body, working closely with the FDA to develop standards that food consumed by animals must meet. AAFCO leaves the responsibility of regulating these standards to the individual states. Most states have adopted the guidelines set forth by AAFCO.[34]

AAFCO requires that all pet food products sold in the United States have labels that contain eight components:

  1. Brand and Product Name: These rules address the use of ingredient names in the product name. How ingredients may be included in the product name depends on the percentage of that ingredient in the product, and the use of certain descriptors. For example, there are different rules for "Beef Dog Food", "Beef Recipe Dog Food", "Dog Food with Beef" and "Beef Flavor Dog Food".
  2. Name of Species for which the pet food is intended: This must be conspicuously designated in words on the principal display panel, but may be included in the product name, such as "Beef Dog Food" or "Salmon Treats for Cats".
  3. Quantity Statement: This is the net weight or net volume, and it must be expressed in the correct units and placed on the lower third of the principal display panel.
  4. Guaranteed Analysis: This lists the percentage of each of the nutrients in the food. The minimum percent of crude protein and crude fat, the maximum percent of crude fiber, and moisture are always required. Note that "crude" refers to the analysis method, rather than the quality of the nutrient.
  5. Ingredient Statement: Ingredients must be listed in order of predominance by weight, on an "as formulated basis". The ingredient that makes up the highest percentage of the total weight as it goes into the product is listed first.
  6. Nutritional Adequacy Statement: This is a statement that indicates the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination of these, or intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. AAFCO makes rules for nutrient levels required for such a statement. Products conspicuously identified on the principal display panel as a snack, treat, or supplement are exempt.
  7. Feeding Directions: All pet foods labeled as complete and balanced for any or all life stages must include feeding directions that, at a minimum, state "Feed (amount of product) per (weight) of dog/cat". Feeding frequency must also be stated. Feeding directions are optional for treats, as long as they are labeled as snacks or treats.
  8. Name and address of manufacturer or distributor: This names the pet food company as guarantor of the product and gives the company's location. If the company uses a separate manufacturer for actual production or distribution, the label must show that relationship by using the words "Manufactured for" or "Distributed by".[35]

Dog and cat foods labeled as "complete and balanced" must meet standards established by the AAFCO either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. Cat and dog food nutrient profiles were established by the AAFCO's Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee (1991–1992) and the Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee (1990–1991), respectively. The nutrient profiles were updated in 2016.[36]

The "Family Rule" allows a manufacturer to have a product that is "nutritionally similar" to another product in the same "family" to adopt the latter's "complete and balanced" statement without itself undergoing any feeding tests. The "similar" food must be of the same processing type; contain the same moisture content; bear a statement of nutritional adequacy for the same or less demanding life stage as the lead product; contain a dry matter, metabolizable energy (ME) content within 7.5% of the lead product's dry matter; meet the same levels of crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, lysine, thiamine (and for cat foods, potassium and taurine) as the lead food; and meet or exceed the nutrient levels and ratios of the lead family product or the AAFCO nutrient profiles, whichever is lower. The label statement on the similar food can be the same as the lead product if the ME is substantiated by the 10-day ME feeding study.[35]

Critics of the AAFCO standards argue that such requirements are too lax. Generational studies conducted by researchers at University of California, Davis have shown some foods that pass AAFCO's feeding trials are still not suitable for long-term use and estimated that of 100 foods that pass the nutritional analysis, 10 to 20 would not pass the feeding trials. Although maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established because of concerns with overnutrition, many still lack a maximum allowed level and some contains large disparity between maximum and minimum values. The NRC accepts that despite ongoing research, large gaps still exist in the knowledge of quantitative nutritional information for specific nutrients.[37] Some professionals acknowledge the possibilities of phytochemicals and other vital nutrients that have yet to be recognized as essential by nutritional science. With such broad guidelines and loose feeding trial standards, critics argue that the term "complete and balanced" is inaccurate and even deceptive. An AAFCO panel expert has stated that "although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities."[38]

Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, and holistic. Such terms currently have no official definitions. The AAFCO is currently considering defining some of the terms. However, the terms "natural" and "organic" do have definitions; e.g., organic products must meet the same USDA regulations as for organic human food.

Canada

In Canada, products that pass the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Pet Food Certification Program, which involves a feeding trial, carry a CVMA label on their packaging. Participation in the program is voluntary. The program was discontinued at the end of 2007.[39] There is no government regulation of pet food manufactured in Canada. However, imported pet food does receive stringent oversight.[40]

European Union

In the European Union, pet food is regulated by the same harmonised standards across the EU, via the Feeding Stuffs Act.[41]

All ingredients used for pet food have to be fit for human consumption according to EU requirements. But regulations require that pet food that contains by-products be labelled as "Not for human consumption" even though such by-products have to be derived from animals declared fit for human consumption. Raw pet food has to be labelled "Pet food only".[42]

Products meant for daily feeding are labelled "complete feedingstuff" or "complete petfood" or other EU languages equivalent. Products meant for intermittent feeding are labeled "complementary feedingstuff or "complementary pet food" while products with an ash content of over 40% are labeled "mineral feedingstuff". Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight.[43]

With the released Commission Regulation (EU) No 107/2013, the European Union has set new maximum levels for melamine in canned pet food. According to results of an in-depth research of the 2007 pet food crisis, melamine used in coatings for pet food cans can migrate into the food. Therefore, the regular melamine migration limit (SML) of 2.5 mg/kg for food and feed has been expanded to pet food. This limit is valid for canned wet pet food on an 'as sold' basis.[44]

The European Union does not use a unified nutrient requirement.[45] A manufacturer committee called FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) makes recommendations for cats and dogs that members follow.[46]

2007 recalls

Beginning in March 2007, there were massive recalls of many brands of cat and dog foods. The recalls came in response to reports of kidney failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company, beginning in February 2007. After more than three weeks of complaints from consumers, the recall began voluntarily with the Canadian company Menu Foods on March 16, 2007, when a company test showed sickness and death in some of the test animals. Soon after, there were numerous media reports of animal deaths as a result of kidney failure, and several other companies who received the contaminated wheat gluten also voluntarily recalled dozens of pet food brands. Menu Foods recalled almost over 50 brands of dog food,[47] and over 40 brands of cat food.[48] Nestlé Purina PetCare withdrew all sizes and varieties of Alpo "Prime Cuts in Gravy".[49] Some companies were not affected and utilized the situation to generate sales for alternative pet foods.[50]

2021 recalls

In early January 2021, Midwestern Pet Food products recalled its Sportmix products which were linked to the death of over 70 dogs and sickness in about 80 others. Dog and cat food, sold by retailers across the United States over the internet, were being investigated by the US Food and Drug Administration for the possibility that fatal levels of aflatoxins were present in the food. Midwestern, which is based in Evansville, Indiana, broadened its recall to include all its pet food products manufactured in its Oklahoma facility that contain corn and have expiration dates on or before July 9, 2022.[51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hickman, Leo. Britain's problem with pets, The Guardian, November 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Pet Food Market | Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2019-2024)". www.mordorintelligence.com. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics". www.americanpetproducts.org. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  4. ↑ "Top Pet Food Companies". www.petfoodindustry.com. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  5. ↑ "Online pet food sales poised for significant growth?". Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  6. ↑ "Global pet food sales hit $91 billion in 2018". www.petfoodindustry.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  7. ↑ Research, Zion Market. "U.S. Pet Food Market will reach USD 30.01 billion in 2022: Zion Market Research". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  8. ↑ "Can insect pet food cut dogs' carbon pawprint?". The Hindu. THG Publishing Pvt Ltd. Reuters. 2019-01-12. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-10-12. Do you love your dog, but are worried about the environmental impact of their meat-heavy diet? [...] Studies suggest pets consume about a fifth of the world's meat and fish, and a dog's carbon footprint is more than twice that of a 4x4 car, according to Yora.
  9. 1 2 3 Acuff, Heather L.; Dainton, Amanda N.; Dhakal, Janak; Kiprotich, Samuel; Aldrich, Greg (1 May 2021). "Sustainability and Pet Food: Is There a Role for Veterinarians?". Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice. 51 (3): 563–581. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.01.010. ISSN 0195-5616. PMID 33773646. S2CID 232406972.
  10. 1 2 Pedrinelli, Vivian; Teixeira, Fabio A.; Queiroz, Mariana R.; Brunetto, Marcio A. (17 November 2022). "Environmental impact of diets for dogs and cats". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 18510. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22631-0. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 9672041. PMID 36396966.
  11. ↑ Domínguez-Oliva, Adriana; Mota-Rojas, Daniel; Semendric, Ines; Whittaker, Alexandra L. (January 2023). "The Impact of Vegan Diets on Indicators of Health in Dogs and Cats: A Systematic Review". Veterinary Sciences. 10 (1): 52. doi:10.3390/vetsci10010052. ISSN 2306-7381. PMC 9860667. PMID 36669053.
  12. ↑ Kępińska-Pacelik, Jagoda; Biel, Wioletta (January 2022). "Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat?". Animals. 12 (12): 1515. doi:10.3390/ani12121515. ISSN 2076-2615. PMC 9219536. PMID 35739851.
  13. ↑ Hernandez, Juan; Rhimi, Soufien; Kriaa, Aicha; Mariaule, Vincent; Boudaya, Houda; Drut, Amandine; Jablaoui, Amin; Mkaouar, Héla; Saidi, Amel; Biourge, Vincent; Borgi, Mohamed Ali; Rhimi, Moez; Maguin, Emmanuelle (May 2022). "Domestic Environment and Gut Microbiota: Lessons from Pet Dogs". Microorganisms. 10 (5): 949. doi:10.3390/microorganisms10050949. ISSN 2076-2607. PMC 9143008. PMID 35630391.
  14. ↑ Oberbauer, Anita M.; Larsen, Jennifer A. (2021). "Amino Acids in Dog Nutrition and Health". Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 1285. Springer International Publishing. pp. 199–216. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-54462-1_10. ISBN 978-3-030-54461-4. PMID 33770408. S2CID 232375959.
  15. ↑ Bosch, Guido; Hagen-Plantinga, Esther A.; Hendriks, Wouter H. (January 2015). "Dietary nutrient profiles of wild wolves: insights for optimal dog nutrition?". British Journal of Nutrition. 113 (S1): S40–S54. doi:10.1017/S0007114514002311. ISSN 0007-1145. PMID 25415597. S2CID 17359879.
  16. ↑ Golder, Christina; Weemhoff, James L.; Jewell, Dennis E. (March 2020). "Cats Have Increased Protein Digestibility as Compared to Dogs and Improve Their Ability to Absorb Protein as Dietary Protein Intake Shifts from Animal to Plant Sources". Animals. 10 (3): 541. doi:10.3390/ani10030541. ISSN 2076-2615. PMC 7143243. PMID 32213956.
  17. ↑ "Dog and cat pet population worldwide 2018". Statista. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  18. ↑ Riehl, Rüdiger; Baensch, HA (1996). Aquarium Atlas (5th ed.). Germany: Tetra Press. ISBN 3-88244-050-3.
  19. ↑ "The Dangers of Uneaten Fish Food". www.aqueon.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  20. ↑ What to Feed Birds
  21. ↑ Aquirre, GD (1978). "Retinal degeneration associated with the feeding of dog foods to cats". J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 172 (7): 791–6. PMID 640940.
  22. ↑ Burger IH, Barnett KC. The taurine requirement of the adult cat. Journal of Small Animal Practice.1982;23:533-537.
  23. ↑ Anderson RS, Blaza SE, Burger IH, Edney ATB. Content of commercial dog foods. Veterinary Record.1984;114(12):302–303.
  24. ↑ Mieszkowski, Katharine. "The Beef Over Pet Food". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-03-07.
  25. ↑ Raw Food Diets for Pets – Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and Public Health Agency of Canada Joint Position Statement November 2006
  26. ↑ "High-Pressure Processing and Raw Pet Food Diets: What You Need to Know | petMD". www.petmd.com. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  27. 1 2 Michel, Kathryn E. (2006). "Unconventional Diets for Dogs and Cats". Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 36 (6): 1269–1281. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.08.003. PMID 17085234.
  28. ↑ Schlesinger, Daniel P.; Joffe, Daniel J. (2011). "Raw food diets in companion animals: A critical review". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 52 (1): 50–54. ISSN 0008-5286. PMC 3003575. PMID 21461207.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Kovalkovičová, N; Šutiaková, I; Pistl, J; Šutiak, V (2009). "Some food toxic for pets". Interdisciplinary Toxicology. 2 (3): 169–176. doi:10.2478/v10102-009-0012-4. PMC 2984110. PMID 21217849.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets". ASPCA. ASPCA. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  31. ↑ "Is Xylitol Deadly to Dogs?". Snopes.
  32. ↑ Piscitelli, Christopher M.; Dunayer, Eric K.; Aumann, Marcel (February 2010). "Xylitol toxicity in dogs". Compendium (Yardley, PA). 32 (2): E1–4, quiz E4. ISSN 1940-8315. PMID 20473849.
  33. ↑ Government regulation of the pet food industry – Hillestad, Katharine
  34. ↑ Federal Drug Administration. (2018, Aug 1). Pet Food. Retrieved May 31, 2019, from https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-food-feeds/pet-food
  35. 1 2 "The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) > Home". petfood.aafco.org. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  36. ↑ Federal Drug Administration. (2018, March 23). "Complete and Balanced" Pet Food. Retrieved May 31, 2018, from https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/complete-and-balanced-pet-food
  37. ↑ National Research Council. 2006. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats.
  38. ↑ James G. Morris and Quinton R. Rogers (1994). "Assessment of the Nutritional Adequacy of Pet Foods through the Life Cycle". J. Nutr. 124 (12 Suppl): 2520S–2534S. doi:10.1093/jn/124.suppl_12.2520S. PMID 7996231. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  39. ↑ Pet food package labels show AAFCO compliance
  40. ↑ "Global Pet Foods » What you need to know about pet food regulations". globalpetfoods.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  41. ↑ Guidance Notes – Food Standards Agency
  42. ↑ EU Pet food Legislation: Pet food Ingredient Requirements U.S. Mission to the European Union
  43. ↑ EU Pet food Legislation: Pet food Labelling Requirements U.S. Mission to the European Union
  44. ↑ Commission Regulation (EU) No 107/2013 European Commission, Retrieved 04/22/2013
  45. ↑ Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations. "How pet food is regulated" (PDF).
  46. ↑ "Nutritional Guidelines". FEDIAF.
  47. ↑ "Menu Foods Income Fund – Annual General Meeting". 2007-04-06. Archived from the original on April 6, 2007. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  48. ↑ "Menu Foods Income Fund – Annual General Meeting". 2007-04-06. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  49. ↑ Commissioner, Office of the. "2007 – Alpo® Brand Prime Cuts In Gravy Canned Dog Food Voluntary Nationwide Recall". www.fda.gov. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  50. ↑ "Capitalizing on Pet-Food Panic". Newsweek.
  51. ↑ "Pet food recall expanded after more than 70 dogs die". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
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