PTertacks
PET FOOD RECALL REVISITED
with Jan Jaeger
After three weeks in the spotlight, the pet food recall revelations continue to make the front page and prime time news. Although initial reports misidentified the source of contamination, very early on wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier in China was identified as the carrier.

The pet food contaminant, originally thought to be a type of rat poison, was later identified as melamine, used in the manufacture of plastic. The content analysis provided by the exporter failed to list melamine, and so far, no one has been able to figure out how it got in there. Apparently, product contamination is a widespread problem in China, but this is the first time involving a high-profile export case. A few days ago, Chinese authorities finally issued an official response that they are looking into the allegations.

Speculation about the suspicious wheat gluten has been rife, leading to rumors of tampering, profit boosting and even sparking demands for Senate hearings. The few pet deaths traced to contaminated product have been perplexing since melamine is supposedly not toxic to animals when ingested. So the mystery continues to unfold, but, hopefully, our country-wide crisis regarding our pets' health and well being has been controlled and contained.

Now pet owners are left with understandable concerns about what to feed their pets. After all, many of those brands pulled from the marketplace are considered to be top of the line. It is reasonable for a pet owner to question why spending the extra money for a so-called premium product is necessary, when, as in this case, there was the same risk factor for contamination as from feeding low end, cheaper store brand.

Part of the answer lies in the manufacturing process for wet pet food. Those foods subject to recall were canned and pouched products, referred to as "cuts and gravy" style foods. Because these products are a very small percentage of pet food production, most pet food manufacturers do not own or operate wet food production facilities.

Instead, they contract with a wet food production company such as Menu Foods, the largest in the country, to make their branded products according to their highly-guarded recipes using their specified ingredients. Wheat gluten, a protein-rich substitute for meat typically used in both pet and human foods, is a non-proprietary ingredient common to all the pet food brands manufactured by Menu Foods. Therefore, the contamination showed no bias according to brand.

The other part of the answer has to do with the formula. Where all these pet foods do differ is in the other ingredients used, and the proportions in which they are used. Typically, you get what you pay for, and quality, whether buying pet food or a new living room sofa, just costs more.

In order to determine an acceptable food for your pet, ingredient quality should be the first criterion. The amount of animal protein a food contains is the primary indicator of quality. Animal proteins are desirable because they are more digestible and palatable with a wider source of essential and nonessential amino acids than plant proteins. And, let's face it, our pets are natural carnivores.

The order the ingredients appear on the ingredient list is important as well. The first ingredient is the largest amount, so if the first ingredient is chicken, and the second ingredient is turkey or even chicken meal (dehydrated chicken), there is a solid protein base. If another animal protein shows up much further down in the ingredient list, then the food is not high in animal protein; it is lower quality and less expensive to produce.

Whole grains and vegetables are quality additions, and in canned food, either meat, fish or poultry broth is preferred over water as the liquid used in processing.

Other, less desirable ingredients commonly used in pet foods include "by-products," which can include ears, chicken heads or bovine tumors. Byproduct quality and consistency can be unpredictable, whereas more expensive whole meats have less quality variation. "Animal fat" can be any lowpriced, low-quality mix of fats of uncertain origin and "meat meal" can mean practically anything. Vegetable fragments or grain by-products listed in quantity on the label can indicate a lower quality food. Also not desirable are artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or added sweeteners.

Train yourself to become a label reader. Look for foods containing whole meats, vegetables and grains. The more ingredients listed on the label, excluding vitamins and minerals, means that formula contains smaller amounts of each ingredient. And, finally, choose a food your pet likes. The most expensive pet food in the world fails if your pet

won't eat it. I

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop and is a member of Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America (DWAA and CWA).. Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower Bunny, Millie guinea pig and two budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com.