Our pets are among the most precious elements in life for many people across the globe. What our four-legged companions are being fed is therefore something we care a lot about. However, recent reports tell us that modern consumers are starting to question the information on food and feed product labels to a greater degree than before. They are starting to demand documentation backed up by data and evidence. They are demanding evidence-based transparency.
Due to technical limitations, pet food has not been included in this routine – until now
Using state-of-the-art DNA-analysis methods, ORIVO recently performed a screening of 35 pet food products claiming to be composed of either one or a limited number of named species. Such products are most often chosen by pet owners for specific reasons (allergy, personal preferences etc) and these products normally have a premium price point. The tested products, which were purchased in Europe and USA, were analyzed for species composition and the results were compared with what was declared on the product labels.
The results showed that almost 60 % of the products did not comply with the ingredients listed on the label. Some of the deviation from the label claim was:
- Substantial amount of chicken in salmon based, chicken free, formulas.
- Substantial amounts of various non-declared species in sensitive formulas.
If these numbers are representative for pet food products in general, supply-chain integrity needs to be taken more seriously by the industry. Transparency related to sourcing and product origin is no longer an option, it is a necessity.
IS IT TIME TO INTRODUCE THE ORIVO CERTIFICATION SEAL (ALREADY INTRODCUED FOR OMEGA-3 PRODUCTS) ALSO FOR PET FOOD PRODUCTS?
(Please use this link to read about a similar screening performed for omega-3 supplements)
