Pet food is typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets. A pet store or pet shop is a retail business which sells different kinds of animals Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good It is usually specific to the type of pet (such as dog food or cat food). A pet is an Animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a househeld animal as opposed to Livestock, Laboratory animals Working animals Dog food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by Dogs or other canines Special types of dog food given as a reward and not as Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of Cats Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal
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Industry
Cat and dog food sales exceeded £1. See also Pound (currency.The pound sign (" £ " or " ₤ " is the symbol for the Pound sterling —the currency of the 4 billion in the United Kingdom[1] and US$14. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 3 billion in the United States in 2005. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [2] In 2006 the value of the UK pet food market rose to just over £1. 6 billion. [3] The leading exporters of pet food for 2004 were France ($993 million), United States ($786 million) and Netherland ($511 million). [4] while the leading importers were Japan ($718 million), Germany ($617 million) and the UK ($563 million). [5]
In 2007, global sales of cat and dog food totaled US$ 45. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 12 billion, a growth of 4. 9% from the previous year. [6]
Fish food
Fish foods normally contain macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. The Bushtit ( Psaltriparus minimus) is a long-tailed tit found in North America food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by pet Fish kept in Aquariums or Ponds. A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment Micronutrients are Nutrients needed for life in small quantities A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish exclusively prepared foods that most commonly are produced in flake, pellet or tablet form. Fishkeeping is a popular Hobby concerned with keeping Fish in the home Aquarium or garden Pond. [7] Pelleted forms, some of which sink rapidly, are often used for larger fish or bottom feeding species such as loaches or catfish. Catfish ( order Siluriformes) are a very diverse group of bony Fish. Some fish foods also contain additives, such as beta carotene or sex hormones, to artificially enhance the color of ornamental fish. Beta-carotene is an Organic compound - a Terpenoid, a red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits Sex steroids, also known as gonadal steroids, are Steroid hormones that interact with Vertebrate Androgen or Estrogen receptors
Bird food
Bird food are used both in birdfeeders and to feed pet birds. Bird food is Food (often varieties of Seeds eaten by Birds Humans generally make or buy bird food to feed to Pet birds or use in Birdfeeders A birdfeeder, bird feeder, or bird table is a device placed out-of-doors to supply Bird food to Birds The success of a bird feeder in attracting It typically consist of a variety of seeds. Not all birds eat seeds. Suet (beef or mutton fat) is recommended for insect-eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers. Suet (/ˈsuːɪt/ is raw Beef or mutton Fat, especially the hard fat found around the Loins and Kidneys Suet has a Melting Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The nuthatches are a Genus, Sitta, of small Passerine Birds belonging to the Wallcreeper, constitute the The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of Near-passerine Birds. [8] Nectar (essentially sugar water) attracts hummingbirds. Nectar is a Sugar -rich liquid produced by plants It is produced either by the Flowers in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral Hummingbirds are Birds in the family Trochilidae, and are endemic to the Americas. [8]
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 Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment 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. Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an Organic acid. It is also a major constituent of Bile and can be found in the lower intestine and in small [9]
Dog food
There are many different recommendations on what diet is best for dogs. Dog food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by Dogs or other canines Special types of dog food given as a reward and not as Some people argue that dogs have thrived off of leftovers and scraps from their human owners for thousands of years and that 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. Most store-bought pet food comes in either dry form, also known as kibble, or wet canned form.
Raw feeding
Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic dogs and cats a diet primarily of uncooked meat and bones. Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic Dogs and Cats a diet primarily of un cooked meat edible bones and organs Supporters of raw feeding believe that the natural diet of an animal in the wild is its most ideal diet and try to mimic a similar diet for their domestic companion. They are commonly opposed to commercial pet foods, which they consider poor substitutes for raw feed. Opponents believe that the risk of foodborne illnesses posed by the handling and feeding of raw meats would outweigh the purported benefits and that no scientific studies have been done to support the numerous beneficial claims.
Labeling and regulation
In the United States, 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). The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Federal Trade Commission ( FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act It is further regulated at the state level. [10] The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establishes standards on which states base their feed laws and regulations, but of itself, it has no regulatory authority. AAFCO or the Association of American Feed Control Officials is a commercial enterprise which attempts to regulate the quality and safety of Fodder and Pet food
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 last updated in 1995 by the AAFCO's Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee and the Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee repectively. The updated profiles replaced the previous recommendations set by the National Research Council (NRC). The National Research Council (NRC of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academy of Sciences and the United States National Academy of
Products that are substantiated to be "complete and balanced" by feeding trials will have the statement "animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition. " The protocol requires that 6 out of 8 animals complete a 26 week feeding trial without showing clinical or pathological signs of nutritional deficiency or excess. The cats' general health is evaluated by a veterinarian before and after the test. Four blood values, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum albumin are measured after the trial and the average values of the test subjects must meet minimum levels. Hemoglobin ( also spelled haemoglobin and abbreviated Hb or Hgb) is the Iron -containing Oxygen -transport Metalloprotein The hematocrit ( Ht or HCT) or packed cell volume ( PCV) or erythrocyte volume fraction (EVF is the proportion of Blood Alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) ( is a Hydrolase Enzyme responsible for removing Phosphate groups from many types of molecules including Serum albumin, often referred to simply as albumin, is the most abundant Plasma protein in humans and other Mammals Albumin is essential for maintaining No animal is allowed to lose more than 15% of its starting weight.
Products that are formulated with ingredients to meet the established nutrient profile would include the following statement. "(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. " There are two separate nutrient profiles - one for "growth and reproduction" and one for "adult maintenance". The nutritional adequacy statement would include info on which life stages the product is suitable for. A product labeled as "for all life stages" must meet the more stringent nutrient profile for "growth and reproduction". Products labeled as "intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding" do not meet either profiles.
A third method allows a manufacturer to have a product that is "nutritional similar" to another product in the same "family" to adopt the latter's "complete and balanced" statement without itself undergoing any feeding tests. The modified statement would read "(name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition for (growth and reproduction/adult maintenance) and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests. "[11]
Critics of the AAFCO standards argue that such requirements are too lax. Generational studies conducted by researchers at University of California, Davis have shown that 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. The University of California Davis, commonly known as UC Davis, or just UCD, is a public coeducational university located in the city of Davis, [12] 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. Overnutrition is a form of Malnutrition in which nutrients are oversupplied relative to the amounts required for normal growth development and Metabolism. [13] The NRC accepts that despite ongoing research, large gaps still exist in the knowledge of quantitative nutritional information for specific nutrients. [14] 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 the term "complete and balanced" to inaccurate and even deceptive. An AAFCO panel expert has stated that "although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities. "[15]
Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, natural and holistic. Such terms currently have no official definitions. The AAFCO is currently looking to define some of the terms.
In Canada products that pass the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Pet Food Certification Program, which involves a feeding trial, carries a CVMA label on their packaging. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Participation in the program is voluntary. There are no government regulation of pet food in the Canadian marketplace. [16] The CVMA Program was discontinued at the end of 2007. [17]
In the European Union, pet food is regulated by the same harmonised standards across the EU, via the Feeding Stuffs Act. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in [18]
All ingredients used for pet food has to be fit for human consumption according to EU requirements. But regulations require that pet food that contains by-products be labeled 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 labeled "Pet food only". [19]
Products meant for daily feeding are labeled "Complete feedingstuff" or "complete petfood" or other EU languages equivalent. The languages of the European Union are Languages used by people within the member states of the European Union. Products meant for intermittent feeding are labeled "Complementary feedingstuff or "complementary petfood" while products with an ash content of over 40% are labeled "Mineral Feedingstuff". Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. [20]
2007 recalls
The 2007 pet food recalls involved the massive recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007. The 2007 pet food recalls comprise the contamination and wide recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007 and the ensuing developments A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product usually due to the discovery of safety issues WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order The recalls came in response to reports of renal failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company, beginning in February 2007. Renal failure or kidney Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES 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. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Menu Foods Limited is owned by a partnership called Menu Foods Income Fund ( based in Streetsville Ontario, Canada, and is the largest maker of wet cat and dog food Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 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.
By the end of March, veterinary organizations reported more than 100 pet deaths amongst nearly 500 cases of kidney failure, with one online database self-reporting as many as 3,600 deaths as of April 11. Veterinary medicine the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. As of April 8, Menu Foods has confirmed only about 16 deaths. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian The U. S. Food and Drug Administration refuses to estimate the amount of sick or dead because there is no centralized government records database of animal sickness or death in the United States as there are with humans (such as the Centers for Disease Control). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services based in unincorporated As a result, many sources speculate that the actual number of affected pets may never be known and experts are concerned that the actual death toll could potentially reach into the thousands.
Overall, several major companies have recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods, with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. Although there are several theories of the source of the agent causing sickness in affected animals, with extensive government and private testing and forensic research, to date, no definitive cause has been isolated. As of April 10, the most likely cause, according to the FDA, though not yet proven, is indicated by the presence of melamine in wheat gluten in the affected foods. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama This article is about the chemical substance called melamine The term "melamine" may also be used to refer to the plastic Melamine resin. The Chinese company behind the contaminated wheat gluten has initially denied any involvement in the contamination, but is cooperating with Chinese and American investigators.
In the United States, there has been extensive media coverage of the recall. There has been widespread public outrage and calls for government regulation of pet foods, which had previously been self-regulated by pet food manufacturers. This article is for the legal term For regulation of genes see Regulation of gene expression. The United States Senate held an oversight hearing on the matter by April 12. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The events have caused distrust of most processed pet foods in some consumers.
See also
References
- ^ PFMA/Ipsos Mori
- ^ Euromonitor International, “Pet Food & Pet Care Products in the US” (2005)
- ^ PFMA/Ipsos Mori
- ^ Pet Food Exports: Country by commodity. Bird food is Food (often varieties of Seeds eaten by Birds Humans generally make or buy bird food to feed to Pet birds or use in Birdfeeders Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of Cats Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal Dog food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by Dogs or other canines Special types of dog food given as a reward and not as food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by pet Fish kept in Aquariums or Ponds. Pet Insurance pays the veterinary costs if one's pet becomes ill or is injured in an accident FAO (2004). Retrieved on 2008-02-24. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the
- ^ Pet Food Imports: Country by commodity. FAO (2004). Retrieved on 2008-02-24. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the
- ^ Euromonitor International
- ^ Riehl, Rüdiger. Editor. ; Baensch, HA (1996. 5th Edn. ). Aquarium Atlas. Germany: Tetra Press. ISBN 3-88244-050-3.
- ^ a b What to Feed Birds
- ^ Aquirre, GD (1978). "Retinal degeneration associated with the feeding of dog foods to cats". J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 172 (7): 791–796.
- ^ Government regulation of the pet food industry - Hillestad, Katharine
- ^ http://www.hilarywatson.com/aafco.pdf
- ^ Whole Dog Journal
- ^ Whole Dog Journal
- ^ Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats - By National Research Council
- ^ WSAVA 2001 - Alternative Feeding Practices
- ^ CBC Marketplace: Pet Food
- ^ Pet food package labels show AAFCO compliance
- ^ Guidance Notes - Food Standards Agency
- ^ Petfood
- ^ Petfood
External links
- Pet food safety center at Humane Society of the United States
- Consumer guide to pet food
- Interpreting pet food labels - Pet food labeling according to AAFCO regulations
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