Recalled Pet Food: Aflatoxin

Must Read: Aflatoxin Pet Food Recalls

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The recall of SportMix dog and cat foods may impact you even if you’re not feeding the food being recalled.

UPDATE: JANUARY 25, 2021

The FDA released an update which indicated the recall has expanded internationally. Further, based on the number of reported deaths and illnesses as of this date this is likely the largest documented aflatoxin recall within the pet industry.

UPDATE: JANUARY 11, 2021

The FDA released an update on the original recall announcement adding over 1,000 lots of pet food manufactured by Midwestern pet. Affected foods were made in their Oklahoma facility. More than seventy deaths have been reported with an additional 80+ pets ill.

This recall indicates there are some clear quality control issues within Midwestern Pet’s manufacturing operations. As foreshadowed in the original article below, it likely meant that they were not inbound testing their ingredients for safety and adequacy. Midwestern was likely not outbound testing their final product for safety and nutritional adequacy either. The recall expansion supports this and we can expect the number of reports of ill pets to increase, as well as further expansion of this recall.

 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: JANUARY 1, 2021

Recently a recall of SportMix dog and cat foods due to ‘potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin’ was announced by the FDA & Midwestern Pet Foods. SportMix is manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods who also makes well-known brands Earthborn, ProPac, Venture, Wholesomes, CanineX and most recently their ancient grain food Unrefined. The first FDA update indicated 28 dogs reported dead, and at least 8 more ill, with 70+ ill and 80+ dead as of the second announcement. It’s likely the FDA announcements will result in more reported cases.

If you are feeding SportMix, you can check the most recent FDA announcement for lot and date codes to see if your food has been recalled. If your pet is ill, be sure to contact your veterinarian right away. You can learn more about filing a Pet Food Complaint with the FDA here: Report A Complaint.

The recall was prompted when the Missouri Department of Agriculture tested multiple SportMix products which contained very high levels of aflatoxin. Currently, the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the FDA are investigating the incident to determine how and why the foods contained such high levels of aflatoxin.

 

What Is Aflatoxin?

Aflatoxin is produced by a mold Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxin is dangerous at high levels, although low levels exist in common foods we and pets eat. These foods include nuts and grains (including ancient grains!) such as peanuts, and corn. In pet food, the most common culprit is corn, however numerous recalls have been announced over the years for a variety of human and pet products.

The FDA states that pets are more at risk of aflatoxin poisoning because they do not eat a varied diet like humans do. In other words, the cumulative effect of eating food with already high levels of aflatoxin makes the situation worse.

 

What symptoms should I look for?

The FDA States:

“Pets with aflatoxin poisoning may experience symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes, gums or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In some cases, this toxicity can cause long-term liver issues and/or death. Some pets suffer liver damage without showing any symptoms. Pet owners whose pets have been eating the recalled products should contact their veterinarians, especially if they are showing signs of illness.”

 

Why this recall should concern you:

Aflatoxin at dangerously high levels in pet food is preventable from a manufacturing standpoint. If a manufacturer is testing their inbound ingredients and outbound testing their final product, dangerously high levels of aflatoxin should never make it to the marketplace. The fact that it has been found in 9 different lots of pet food is concerning and raises several questions:

  • Was Midwestern inbound testing their raw ingredients to ensure that they were safe? In this case, it is likely that the ingredient containing the aflatoxin was corn.
    • Note: The past year there were agricultural reports indicating high levels of aflatoxin in some crops, meaning that if Midwestern was purchasing from these regions they should have been testing for aflatoxin, and other contaminants more frequently.
  • Was Midwestern outbound testing their final products to ensure that they were safe and nutritionally adequate?
  • What types of quality control does Midwestern have in place to prevent problems like this from occurring?
  • What steps does Midwestern take to clean machinery and storage containers in an effort to prevent cross contamination to other products made in the same facility?
  • What other products were made in this facility during and after the recalled product was made?
  • Does Midwestern hold a sample of each lot of food produced so that it may be tested if issues arise such as this?

 

Another Lesson?

The recall of SportMix dog and cat foods is another lesson to both retailers and pet owners that it is important to ask questions of the brand of food you feed your pets. You can learn more about those questions here. I am well aware of many who think that I’m being unreasonable when asking the questions I ask, or pushing for changes in regard to food safety and nutrition adequacy testing – but the reason why I do it is because things like this are PREVENTABLE. Sure, implementing nutritional adequacy testing is inconvienent if you’re a manufacturer – but it’s worse when pets get sick or die because you didn’t implement that testing.  As a retailer it’s inconvenient to have to constantly reach out to pet food companies – but it’s worse when a pet experiences a problem because I didn’t do my homework. It’s clear that many companies do not check all the boxes, but I can do my best to support companies that are doing their best to improve. I can also educate my clients and customers on who does and does not have certain safety/nutritional adequacy measures in place. I can also tell them who refuses to answer questions!

Simply said, knowing what quality control measures a manufacturer has or does not have can make a world of difference. While we don’t know if this recall will be expanded to other lots, or even brands – it is not out of the realm of possibility. For example, if Midwestern truly did have one batch of a contaminated ingredient such as corn, and does have proper quality control measures in place (e.g. proper cleaning of machinery and storage containers to prevent cross contamination) then other products may not be affected. If they do not have adequate measures in place (or failed to follow them) it is possible other products will be affected.

In either case, the question still remains: how did the contaminated food end up in the marketplace to begin with? Was it because they were not inbound testing raw ingredients, or outbound testing the final product or both?  We’ll have to wait and see.[vc_single_image image=”4225″ img_size=”large”]Original Recalled Products: Date accessed: 11 January 2021 https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-alert-certain-lots-sportmix-pet-food-recalled-potentially-fatal-levels-aflatoxin[vc_single_image image=”4226″ img_size=”large”]Second Recall (January 11, 2021) Date accessed: 11 January 2021 https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-alert-certain-lots-sportmix-pet-food-recalled-potentially-fatal-levels-aflatoxin[vc_single_image image=”4227″ img_size=”large”]Date code example: Date accessed 11 January 2021 https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-alert-certain-lots-sportmix-pet-food-recalled-potentially-fatal-levels-aflatoxinAbout the Author

Nicole is the founder & owner of award winning NorthPoint Pets & Company, in Connecticut. She is also the Founder & CEO of Undogmatic Inc. Her undergraduate and graduate education includes biology, chemistry, business and nutrition. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry on multiple R&D projects and has had the privilege to learn from leading international figures in the human and pet health industry. She regularly lectures at national conferences, including federal, state, and municipal K9 events. Her current research involves identifying pathogenic risk factors and transmission among raw fed pets through a comprehensive worldwide survey.

www.northpointpets.com

 

www.undogmaticinc.com

Why You Can’t Rely on the Guaranteed Analysis of Pet Food

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Pet owners, veterinarians and retailers often rely on the guaranteed analysis (GA) of pet foods to help determine if the food provides adequate nutrition and to assess quality. Is this a good way to evaluate foods? The GA provides percentages – but does it tell us anything about the grams of protein, fat or other amount of other nutrients like calcium?

The short answer is no. The long answer is more concerning because the percentages listed on the GA are listed in terms of minimums and maximum which really just means that the GA provides an estimate of 4 main nutrients – protein, fat, moisture and crude fiber (not total fiber) which is misleading at best. It doesn’t even tell you the amount of animal or plant-based protein. In fact, a carefully crafted GA can make some of the worst pet foods look better than they are and be used as a tool to charge a high price tag despite low quality. Some GA’s will provide more information, but those values are usually optional and equally deceptive.

So how are pet owners and others supposed to evaluate pet food if the GA doesn’t provide the whole picture? The answer is: as a consumer or pet food retailer you have to ask questions.

What does the Guaranteed Analysis Provide?

We’ve established that the GA doesn’t tell you anything about the actual content of the food, but why is that? For example, looking at the GA of ‘Kibble A’ stating 24% protein and ‘Canned Food B’ stating 8.5% protein (table 1) – which food has a higher protein per serving? If you take the time to either do the nutrition math or contact the company for answers you’ll find that kibble A has 6.64 grams of protein per 100 calories and Canned Food B has 6.78 grams of protein per 100 calories (table 2).

Are you surprised to learn that the wet food has higher protein despite the large difference in percentage in protein? So are most pet owners, retailers and even some veterinarians. This is why advice to feed foods under or over a certain fat and protein percentage is severely flawed. It becomes even more problematic if you contact the company only to determine that they are unable to provide you with a full nutrient analysis of their food which would more accurately describe protein, fat and carbohydrate levels, but also vitamins and minerals.

Guaranteed Anylasis Comparison:
Guaranteed Analysis Kibble A Canned Food B
Crude Protein % 24% Min. 8.5% Min.
Crude Fat % 14% Min. 5.5% Min.
Crude Fiber % 5% Max. 1.5% Max.
Moisture % 10% Max. 78% Max.
Calories/Cup 378 451

Table 1

Nutrients in Grams

(per 100 calories)

 Kibble A Canned Food B
Crude Protein 6.62 grams 6.78 grams
Crude Fat 3.86 grams 4.39 grams
Crude Fiber 1.38 grams 1.2 grams

Table 2

Looking at these tables you’ll see that even though the canned food has a lower percentage of protein and fat, it is higher in grams of protein and fat per 100/calories.

For crude fiber, this is percentage is not representative of the total fiber within the diet. In fact, this is a small portion of the total dietary fiber. Don’t believe me? A 2019 FDA report shows that Total Dietary Fiber (TDF) can be as much as 3-4 times higher than the crude fiber listed on the GA. So is crude fiber on the GA misleading? You bet!

What about the minimums (min.) and maximums (max.) listed on food labels?

Even more confusing is that you’ll often see ‘min’ or ‘max’ following protein, fat, fiber or moisture – meaning that the value could be higher or lower than the number you actually see. This number could actually vary quite a bit, which also means that the calorie content of said food could also vary widely from what is listed on the label. This also means that our example above is also a guestimate – at best. This is why asking for the ‘typical nutrient analysis’ is so important!

 

Understanding Moisture’s Role in Pet Food

To put this into context, you may have heard that protein should be below a certain percent value for growing puppies, for pets with kidney disease or for some dogs with behavioral issues. Or, you may have been told to find a food with a low percentage of fat for pets with pancreatitis or liver disease. The fact is that the percentage of protein or fat tells you nothing about the actual grams of protein that is within the food.

Remember when I said that a canned food with 8.5% protein can have more protein than a dry food with 24%? This is simply because the water content makes canned foods appear lower in protein, fat or other nutrients because water makes up a greater proportion of the food. Canned foods can be comprised of 70-80% moisture where dry foods typically sit around 10%. Said differently, if you adjust the moisture level of any pet food you can shift the percentages of protein, fat and fiber significantly while the grams of those nutrients stay the same.

 

A Bit About Protein

The percentage of protein or the grams of protein still does not tell you if the protein is able to be used by your pet. There are two distinct types of protein: plant, and animal. Proteins are made up of amino acids, think of these as building blocks. Amino acids are used for countless processes within the body and are necessary for life. They can be broken down into two main categories: essential and non-essential.

The body is able to make non-essential amino acids itself, but it MUST obtain essential amino acids from the diet. Plant-based foods typically lack or have inadequate levels of essential amino acids and therefore simply replacing animal protein with plant-based protein is not an even trade. Given the cost of animal protein, pet food companies will commonly formulate foods with higher plant-based levels of protein and supplement essential amino acids either with complementary animal sources or with the addition of a supplement.

This is one of the reasons why poorly formulated plant-based diets (especially with a lack of testing) for cats and dogs could be so detrimental. Therefore, if a pet food doesn’t have adequate levels of essential amino acids then it can lead to deficiencies and serious health problems. Additionally, some non-essential amino acids may become conditionally-essential in the case of certain diseases – an example would be taurine in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Label Update

What the above example shows is that the nutrition label is in need of a serious update. We now see that the GA based on percentages is a flawed model leading to a lot of misconceptions which are arguably detrimental to the pet. The GA also allows pet food companies to engage in deceptive marketing practices. A better option would be to present nutrition information in grams and milligrams for easy comparison – similar to the format of Table 2. Better yet, if companies made a full nutrition analysis (such as amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals) of their food readily available (e.g. on the company website) for consumers and veterinarians then the public would be better able to make educated decisions for their pet’s needs.

Owners, veterinarians and retailers need to ask all manufacturers for detailed information regarding the nutrient content of their formulas as well as the digestibility of the nutrients contained within it. Without evaluating these two factors there is no true way to know what the quality of the food is, regardless of how pretty the packaging is, how good the claims sound or what the company tells you. Proprietary is not an excuse for not providing these numbers either since anyone can send out a food for nutrient analysis and digestibility testing.

While these conversations take time for all parties, they are necessary in order to improve the pet industry. Pets are ultimately paying the price of untested pet food we we’ve seen in the Hill’s Vitamin D recalls, aflatoxin recalls and the DCM scare. The point is that if companies were doing their due diligence, testing these foods appropriately, each of these incidents could have been prevented.

Summary

In summary, the GA only provides scant information at best, as it supplies the estimated percentage (proportion of the food) of protein, fat, moisture and insoluble fiber. And as we learned above – it does not quantify the grams of protein, fat or carbohydrates in the food – or provide insight into the levels of vitamins or minerals. Pet food companies should be conducting full nutrient analysis of all of their formulas in order to ensure their food meets minimum nutrient requirements for the pet, but also to provide you with detailed to nutritional information so that you can make educated decisions based on your pet’s individual needs. 

About the Author: Nicole Cammack

Nicole is the founder & owner of award winning NorthPoint Pets & Company, in Connecticut. She is also the Founder & CEO of Undogmatic Inc. Her undergraduate and graduate education includes biology, chemistry, business and nutrition. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry on multiple R&D projects and has had the privilege to learn from leading international figures in the human and pet health industry. She regularly lectures at national conferences, including federal, state, and municipal K9 events. Her current research involves identifying pathogenic risk factors and transmission among raw fed pets through a comprehensive worldwide survey.

www.northpointpets.com

 

www.undogmaticinc.com

Raw Feeding Veterinary Society

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There is a dedicated team of veterinarians that advocate for the safe, responsible feeding of fresh, raw food for dogs and cats. These vets and other professionals are members of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS). Nicci is also a member of this organization as well and you can learn more about the RFVS here: https://rfvs.info/about-us/

Hold the Kefir!

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Kefir has gained recent popularity for pets, but is it all it’s cracked up to be? Science says it’s iffy. The reasoning behind that is that the most common commercial kefir products either did not have the bacterial species it claimed to have, did not have adequate population of those bacteria or the products were mislabeled. Some products even had spelling errors on their packaging!

The most concerning of all was that the website and packaging of many of these products made a wide range of health claims, none of which are supported by the companion animal literature. This doesn’t mean that feeding kefir to your pets is bad per se, but it DOES mean we need to hold pet food companies responsible to safe manufacturing and food handling practices!

https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/98/9/skaa301/5904066?redirectedFrom=fulltext

One Health Initiative

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One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. 

 

The World is changing, COVID has accelerated that change in countless ways. I believe that the unprecedented collaboration between disciplines and scientists from all over the world will be looked at as one of the most incredible feats in our modern world.  My hope is that this collaboration (and open access to scientific literature) continues and inspires other professionals to integrate their practices and their knowledge to work together to improve the lives of humans, animals and the environment. In fact, there is something called the One Health Initiative which aims to do just that.

So, what does this mean for us and our pets? What does it mean for nutrition? The reality is that there are numerous research gaps when it comes to nutrition, and even more when it comes to companion animal nutrition. The environment and how we interact with it also has a significant impact on the health of all living things. Much of the research we rely on for canine and feline supplementation, or management of disease is rooted in human research.

Many medical and nutrition professionals have recognized these significant gaps in human and animal medicine and nutrition. Livestock nutrition is arguably the most advanced of all nutrition sciences, followed by human nutrition, and it is frustrating to see the lack of knowledge sharing & collaboration between those and companion animal fields. This is a significant issue because it leaves treatment gaps for canines and felines such as cognitive dysfunction, allergies, gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, heart disease and more.

The One Health Initiative has provided individuals in many disciplines to collaborate and advance multiple fields of science to study and advance knowledge of zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and security and environmental factors. We look forward to providing updates and perspective on this initiative in the future.

The One Health Initiative provides opportunity for collaboration between veterinary and human physicians and researchers to advance both fields.

Source: https://onehealthinitiative.com/about/[vc_single_image image=”3888″ img_size=”600×427″ onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://onehealthinitiative.com/about/”]

I was feeding Performatrin: Now what do I do?

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‘House-brand’ or just marketing?

Large chain stores and online retailers such as Pet Valu, Chewy, Pet Smart, Costco and Petco have their own ‘in-house’ brands of dog food to help build customer loyalty. In reality all these ‘house brands’ are essentially a mimic on top selling pet foods under their private label or “house brand”. Their product is a literal copycat of top-selling foods in the marketplace and does not provide anything more superior to what is available to your local pet store. Sales associates are trained to direct consumers to their house brand because they make more money by selling you their brand.

If you were a Pet Valu customer and was persuaded to purchase their ‘exclusive’ line of food, Performatrin you may be finding yourself in a bit of a pickle seeing as how all US Pet Valu stores are closing. The silver lining is that you may be able to find a suitable or even better replacement for Performatrin while also helping support your local economy. Please, before jumping to Chewy, PetSmart, Petco or Amazon – visit your local pet retailer. You’ll be surprised to see a plethora of innovative and unique products, often for competitive prices.

At first taste, an exclusive line of food from an upscale retailer may appear to have everything you would want in a pet food – quality ingredients made by a small company with a passion for pets. Now with the announcement of Pet Value shutting all stores in the US in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, all of the appealing aspects of an exclusive food are no longer so appetizing. In fact, lines that are exclusive only to one chain, or store are usually known as ‘private label’. In short, most private label brands, despite marketing claims, are not all they’re made out to be. In fact, most do not even analyze their final formulations or products to verify they are complete and balanced!

What is private label?

Private label isn’t always a dirty word – but it can be in several contexts. While there are lot of examples, I’ll try and break it down simply. For example, private label could mean the following:

  • A generic formulation of food that exists as several brands, all with differing packaging. However, the ingredient labels and guaranteed analysis will typically read the same.
  • A proprietary formulation that is generally made by a large pet food manufacturer (who also makes several other brands), but packaged solely for one customer, or set of customers.

The reality is that there are only a handful of dog food manufacturing facilities in the U.S. This means that multiple, privately-owned brands of food can be manufactured under the same roof, often with the same ingredient sourcing. This is because ‘pooling’ of ingredients results in reduced costs. Other aspects to consider are cost of the facility, machinery, staffing as well as safety and quality certifications. There are several brands that own their own facilities, but that also doesn’t automatically translate to a superior product. Many high-quality products are manufactured in both situations – as a consumer you have to know what questions to ask to determine which products those are.

Why are private label brands problematic?

Private label brands can be problematic as a consumer because if the retailer who had exclusivity to that product closes their doors (e.g. Pet Valu), it leaves you without an avenue to continue getting your pets food. In addition, these private label brands may market themselves as transparent, when in reality they are very good at hiding pertinent information regarding the food formulation, adequacy testing and sourcing. This leaves you, the consumer, woefully unaware of potential issues – or risking not being able to contact the actual company or manufacturer if a problem arises.

Transparency?

Aside from barriers to purchasing these foods (e.g. if a retailer goes out of business), these brands also come with some potential risks – such as lack of nutritional adequacy or validation. As of the date of this article, none of the brands mentioned below were able to provide us with a full 3rd party nutritional analysis or digestibility study.

Don’t believe me? Keep reading and we’ll look at some of the more common “house-brands” and see if you can find them at another retailer.

  • Pet Valu: Performatrin (although with their closing, it wouldn’t be unusual to find it offered on Amazon)
  • Chewy.com: American Journey
  • PetSmart: Authority
  • Petco: WholeHearted
  • Amazon: Wag
  • Tractor Supply: 4Health
  • Costco: Nature’s Domain (Kirkland)

How do I find a transparent brand?

While small businesses love your loyalty, it is unfair for them to force loyalty by persuading you to purchase a product you can only get at one location, or chain. As a consumer it is always beneficial to purchase products that are available elsewhere in case the situation should arise. That said, there are numerous quality brands that are ‘independent only’ which are vastly different than the shade of a private label because these brands tend to be more transparent, and accessible.

‘Independent only’ (local neighborhood pet store) brands are typically companies with adequate product development teams, more transparency behind the product and have greater brand stability. As a consumer, it gives you a real company to contact in the event of a problem, or if you have a question. Whereas a private label may leave you with the impression the retailer is responsible for the product – misleading on all fronts.

Personally, as a retailer, I would not put my name on something as ‘my own’ if I did not have nutritional adequacy and digestibility testing done on the final product. Leaving the formulation and validation of pet foods to those qualified to do so is something consumers and retailers should both be holding brands accountable to. The pet food market already has a low barrier to entry, with one of the largest problems being that anyone can formulate pet food and sell it in todays market – even without credentials.  It’s also good to ensure that all brands have policies and procedures that require all products be held from distribution until they are confirmed to be free from contaminants and pathogens (e.g. melamine, salmonella etc.)

What can I switch to?

The good news is that there are numerous high-quality brands on the market today that you can easily switch your pet to regardless of sensitivities, preferences, age, or any other factor. The sobering point for you is likely the fact that you’ve been paying top dollar for a brand that is very similar, if not identical to other easily accessible products. If you feed as if you’ve been misled, it’s because you have.

Your local independent retailers are ready and willing to help you find a suitable or even better-quality replacement. However, in the meantime, I encourage you to do your own homework by reaching out to pet food companies and asking questions about who their food is formulated by and in what facility it is made in. This may help to broaden your horizons for pet food options. If you’d like to know more about the ‘right’ questions to ask, and what typical answers may mean (or not mean) click here: 5 Ways Pet Owners Can Improve Pet Food.

Curious to switch? Let us know what you were feeding, and we will happily identify an equivalent or better food when you stop by.

The Big Miss: Is No-Hide® Actually Rawhide?

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A ‘consumer advocate’ recently stirred up drama from July 2017 re-circulating an article (figure 1) claiming that Earth Animal No-Hide® treats were rawhide, again. This was on the heels of the announcement of a class-action lawsuit (figure 2) against Earth Animal Ventures (EAV) questioning the ingredients and sourcing of No-Hide® products. I didn’t think I would have to address this issue, but apparently, I do since misinformation and cherry-picked information from the original chain of events keeps circulating (if it’s on the internet it must be true, right?). Consumers and retailers alike need to see the situation for what it is, so I’ll also write this from both a retailer and consumer standpoint to provide the level of transparency I hold others to. As you read this, you’ll understand that both sides have significant issues. In fact, No-Hide® being (or not being) rawhide is hardly the issue. Instead there is a pervasive lack of transparency and misinformation from both the consumer advocate side and EAV.

Read more

Grain-Free Pet Food Diets | What to Know Before Switching

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The benefit and necessity of grain-free pet food have come under scrutiny in recent years due to an FDA investigation due to a potential association with a canine heart disease known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). As a result of this potential association, many have been told there is no scientific evidence to support the use of grain-free foods in canines and felines, or that these foods do not provide any benefit over grain-inclusive foods. For the most part, grain-free refers to kibble, although some have also categorized various canned, freeze-dried, and raw diets under the ‘grain-free’ umbrella. But are these claims accurate? Let’s find out:

 

Grain-free foods don’t provide benefits?grain free dog food kible

The pet food industry’s switch to grain-free was not fueled by a problem with the grains themselves or grain allergies like most believe. The largest pet food recalls in history was due to melamine and cyanuric acid contamination of ingredients coming from China. The short version of the 2007 recall is that wheat gluten and rice protein were intentionally combined with melamine for its high nitrogen content. Higher amounts of nitrogen can cause the protein content of an ingredient to test higher than it actually is. Since cyanuric acid was present, and the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid is likely the reason the recall was so deadly – not the melamine on its own. This series of events fueled the consumer trend of wanting grain-free pet food.

Other Concerns

Another major factor absent from the discussion on grain-free vs. grain inclusive diets for people – and pets – is the contamination of grains with herbicides, pesticides, mycotoxins, and fertilizers. This has become an increasingly large concern since the mid-’90s in both the human and animal food supply. Numerous peer-reviewed articles are detailing the disruption many of these agricultural contaminants have on normal gut bacteria function.1,2 In fact, available literature suggests that humans are becoming increasingly intolerant to grain and grain products for exactly these reasons (e.g. wheat & gluten sensitivity & celiac disease in humans).

We are learning that disruption of vital gut bacteria balance can have devastating effects on the health of the host, including diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disease, cancers, GI issues, and even DCM.3–5 Could the contamination of grains in pet food be one reason why many pets experience improvement of various issues with the change from grain-inclusive to grain-free? Could be.

Ultimately the phrase ‘there is no evidence to support the use of grain-free foods’ doesn’t mean there is not a benefit. It simply means that we have a major gap in research into companion animal nutrition and that we easily forget our recent history. On the contrary, we don’t have evidence to support that feeding grains to canines or felines are any more healthful than feeding grain-free diets. Evidence only shows that it meets minimal (known) nutritional standards, not that pets thrive on these processed diets. In short, canine and feline nutrition fields are far behind the knowledge we have in livestock and human nutrition.

 

Are ALL grain-free foods the same?

Many veterinarians and pet owners automatically lump grain-free cans, fresh food, raw food, and freeze-dried products as ‘grain-free’. While this is technically correct – there are stark differences that make these foods different from their kibble counterparts.

Regardless of whether we are feeding grain-free or not, we need to consider the high temps kibble and canned foods are heated to during the manufacturing process. This high heat creates Maillard Reaction Products (MRP) which is the name for a series of reactions that is the product of sugar (carbohydrate) and protein when heated. These are also known as AGE’s or Advanced Glycation End Products.

MRP’s are responsible for the nutrient loss and associated with diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, loss of cognitive function, allergies, periodontal disease, and chronic inflammation.6–12 This can mean things like arthritis, skin, and ear issues, an old injury that keeps resurfacing, bloating, IBS, etc. Also, there is a large amount of research to suggest that they are carcinogenic and accelerate aging.13,14

  • Heterocyclic amines are MRPs from cooking protein that increases with elevated cooking temperature. This phenomenon is more pronounced in meat than fish – and these increase with temperature and dryness of meat or meat products15.
  • Acrylamides are a chemical that forms naturally from starchy foods during high-temperature cooking. According to the European Food Safety Authority evidence from animal studies shows that acrylamides are genotoxic and carcinogenic: they damage DNA and cause cancer. And since we know so little about animal nutrition is it possible that much of the disease we’re seeing – including DCM – has at least something to do with the MRP’s that are in dry and/or canned pet food? Is it a coincidence that freeze-dried, fresh, and raw options do not have as many associated issues as their processed counterparts? Maybe.

 

Allergic to Grains? Probably Not (sorry, not sorry)

Pet food can be made of everything from rendered unfit foods for human consumption to ingredients that are 100% organic and probably better than the food we feed ourselves. I’m not necessarily here to split hairs on ingredients and in the types of ingredients that are in our pet’s food. Because is it these ingredients that are causing the problem? Or is it something else? – These are the questions that the experts seem to avoid entirely. When a dog experiences issues related to food, we are quick as a society to turn over the bag and blame an ingredient or set of ingredients. However, those ingredients as listed are likely not the problem – rather the quality, processing agents, AGE’s and contamination of these ingredients (e.g. herbicides, pesticides, etc.); something you will never find listed on a label.

 

More Important: Nutrient Availability & Digestibility

The digestibility of food is altered as it is processed, mixed with other ingredients, and heated. That said, canned and kibble foods by definition will have varying levels of nutrient availability and digestibility than their lesser processed counterparts. The ingredients (or set of ingredients) that make up a food could be the most nutrient-dense food available – but if they are not digestible by the cat or dog then those ingredients are irrelevant. In short, this means that it is important to ask your pet food company for their digestibility and nutrient analysis to determine if their food is adequate for your pet. Learn more about what questions to ask and why here.

 

About the author: Nicole Cammack

Nicci is the owner of award-winning NorthPoint Pets & Company, in Connecticut. She is also the Founder & CEO of Undogmatic Inc. Her undergraduate and graduate education includes biology, chemistry, business, and nutrition. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry on multiple R&D projects and has had the privilege to learn from leading international figures in the human and pet health industry. She regularly lectures at national conferences, including federal, state, and municipal K9 events. Her current research involves identifying pathogenic risk factors and transmission among raw fed pets through a comprehensive worldwide survey.

www.northpointpets.com

www.undogmaticinc.com

 

References:

  1. Van Bruggen AHC, He MM, Shin K, et al. Environmental and health effects of the herbicide glyphosate. Sci Total Environ. 2018;616-617:255-268. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.309
  2. Aitbali Y, Ba-M’hamed S, Elhidar N, Nafis A, Soraa N, Bennis M. Glyphosate based- herbicide exposure affects gut microbiota, anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2018;67:44-49. doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2018.04.002
  3. DeGruttola AK, Low D, Mizoguchi A, Mizoguchi E. Current Understanding of Dysbiosis in Disease in Human and Animal Models. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016;22(5):1137-1150. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000750
  4. Galland L. The Gut Microbiome and the Brain. J Med Food. 2014;17(12):1261-1272. doi:10.1089/jmf.2014.7000
  5. Yoshida N, Yamashita T, Hirata K. Gut Microbiome and Cardiovascular Diseases. Diseases. 2018;6(3). doi:10.3390/diseases6030056
  6. Jandeleit-Dahm K, Cooper ME. The Role of AGEs in Cardiovascular Disease. doi:info:doi/10.2174/138161208784139684
  7. Pion PD, Kittleson MD, Thomas WP, Skiles ML, Rogers QR. Clinical findings in cats with dilated cardiomyopathy and relationship of findings to taurine deficiency. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1992;201(2):267-274.
  8. DCM: add taurine to grain-free dog foods, say scientists. Accessed May 15, 2019. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8162-dcm-add-taurine-to-grain-free-dog-foods-say-scientists?v=preview
  9. DACVIM CDSBM. Breed-specific variations of cardiomyopathy in dogs. dvm360.com. Accessed May 15, 2019. https://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/breed-specific-variations-cardiomyopathy-dogs
  10. Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs. vca_corporate. Accessed May 15, 2019. vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dilated-cardiomyopathy-dcm-in-dogs–indepth
  11. Medicine C for V. FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy. FDA. Published online June 27, 2019. Accessed June 29, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
  12. Freeman LM, Stern JA, Fries R, Adin DB, Rush JE. Diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs: what do we know? J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;253(11):1390-1394. doi:10.2460/javma.253.11.1390
  13. Prasad C, Imrhan V, Marotta F, Juma S, Vijayagopal P. Lifestyle and Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) Burden: Its Relevance to Healthy Aging. Aging Dis. 2014;5(3):212-217. doi:10.14336/AD.2014.0500212
  14. Turner DP. Advanced glycation end-products: a biological consequence of lifestyle contributing to cancer disparity. Cancer Res. 2015;75(10):1925-1929. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-0169
  15. Jägerstad M, Skog K, Arvidsson P, Solyakov A. Chemistry, formation and occurrence of genotoxic heterocyclic amines identified in model systems and cooked foods. Z Für Leb -Forsch A. 1998;207(6):419-427. doi:10.1007/s002170050355

How To Switch Your Cat’s Food

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Have you ever tried to switch your cat to a new food without success? This is actually a common problem with cats, so rest assured you’re not alone! Switching your cat’s food can be stressful for you and your cat. Before you start there are a few important things to consider.  Switching your cat to a new food can be a challenge, but with careful planning, you can increase the chances of a successful transition. In this guide, we will provide you with practical tips to introduce a new food to your cat without stress.

Tips for a Smooth Cat Food Transition

  • Relax. Believe it or not, getting stressed before you even switch the food can also stress out your cat. Be sure to set the right tone by not drawing extra attention to mealtime or making a big deal about the new food.
  • Be sure to have 3+ weeks of your cats’ regular food on hand, this will be enough to fully transition.
  • Begin with clean bowls or feeding platters. You should be in the habit of washing bowls daily to prevent unhealthy bacteria from building up.
  • Believe it or not, bowls should be made of glass, USA food-grade ceramic, or a safe plant-based material. For more on this click here: Is Your Pet’s Healthy Food Being Served In A Toxic Bowl?
  • Cats can actually develop an aversion to food based on the size of their feeding bowl. Bowls for food and water should be wide and shallow so cats’ whiskers do not hit the sides of the bowl. This is a phenomenon called whisker fatigue and it leads people to believe their cat is picky when in reality it may be that the bowl is irritating them. In fact, saucers or plates are actually best!
  • Decide what you’re going to switch to, as there are countless options. Consider protein, texture, sourcing, and any health conditions at play. Textures of canned/wet food include pate, shredded, or stews. For raw food, some can be chunky or finer in texture.

Week-by-Week Transition Plan:

how to switch cat food

Week 1: 

You will only use a pea-sized amount of the new food at each meal. If you are using cans or pouches you can try and store them in the fridge for 2-3 days. However, most cats do not like cold food. Be prepared to throw away a fair amount of cat food in your first 1-2 weeks. If you are using raw food, it becomes a little easier as you can thaw small amounts at a time since many raw cat foods come in convenient little kibble-sized pieces that thaw quickly. Regardless, be sure that when you offer the food to your cat that it is at room temperature.

Simply take a pea-sized amount and spread it thinly and evenly along the entire bottom of the dish you are using. Then, take your normal food (kibble or wet) and put it directly on top.

Notes for Success

At this point, it is important to not mix the food. The small amount in the bottom of the dish is to simply introduce the aroma of the new food, and not necessarily get them to consume it. Serve the meal as you normally would without making a big deal about it. Be sure that you do not hover or stare at your cat – simply go about your activities as you normally would. Cats tend to pick up on energy and stress, and you want to avoid introducing any new variables.

It is normal for your cat to not eat any of the new food or maybe leave and return to the dish a few times before eating their regular food. Again, try not to make a big deal about any new behaviors. They should be used to the smell of the new food within a few days. You may find them even starting to lick the bottom of the bowl and clean the dish by the end of the first 5-7 days. This is a good sign, however, be sure not to increase the new food too quickly as to avoid digestive upset.

Pro Tip:

By day 3-4 of week 1 you may choose to take one teaspoon of warm water into the dish prior to adding your regular food if your cat is showing interest in the new food. This can promote an appetizing smell and help to increase moisture intake. At the same time recognize that this is the most critical week, be sure not to rush! Patience is key!

Week 2:

By this point, your cat should have shown some interest and consumed some of the new food at the bottom of the bowl. At this point, you may increase the wet food to 1-2 teaspoons. Repeat a similar process at week one making sure the food is room temperature, with the new food on top. If your cat has seemed to like the added water, you may continue to add it.

By day 4-5 of week two, you may increase the food another small amount as long as they are consuming what you are already given.  Now is the time to consider cutting back on the dry food by a similar volume.

Weeks #3 & #4:

By this time your cat may be only interested in the new food, which is perfectly ok!  If this is the case, there may or may not be a little bit of loose stool as a result of the cat’s decision to switch to the new food abruptly. This should subside within a day or two as their system adjusts.

If they are still consuming both foods, then you can continue increasing the new food and decreasing the kibble as each day progresses. As mentioned above, the entire process can be slow and take 3-4 weeks or more!

Sometimes, they will begin to act hungry, and/or vomit bile when switched too quickly because the gastric pH and amount of secretion have not had time to adjust to the new food, especially in the case of switching from dry to wet food or raw food. If this does happen try offering a small “snack” outside of mealtime. This could include freeze dried treats, food or fresh meat.

Pro Tip: Cats tend to not seek out water as dogs do. While there are biological reasons for this, this doesn’t mean that they should not have ample fresh, clean water available – ideally away from their food bowl. If your cat does drink regularly and you feed dry food, do not be surprised to see their water intake decrease as you move to a more moisture-rich food. This is normal!

Summary:

The most important aspect of switching your cat’s food is not to stress! Be patient, and consistent. These practices pay off in time. Be sure to always ensure your cat has access to water. As they transition to a more moisture-rich food you may notice a healthier coat, brighter eyes, and even more energy!  Your cat who may not have been too playful prior may have more vigor and energy for exercise – it may be worth investing in a toy or two!

 

About the Author: Nicole Cammack

Nicole is the founder & owner of multiple-award-winning NorthPoint Pets & Company, in Connecticut, USA. She has completed undergraduate work in biological sciences, business and holds an M.S. in Nutrition. Currently, Nicole is pursuing a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences (Canine Nutrition/Metabolomics) at the prestigious University of Georgia in the USA.

Her background includes experience in the pharmaceutical industry on multiple R&D projects and has had the privilege to learn from leading figures in the human and pet health industries. Nicole has been heavily involved in police canine nutrition within the USA, helping to improve the modern care and feeding of working dogs. Her interests include working dog nutrition, raw feeding, pathogens, metabolomics, and nutrition’s relationship to disease in humans and canines. Her current research involves the exploration of the canine urinary metabolome and the relationship to diet.

Publications: Cammack, N.R., Yamka, R.M., and Adams, V.J. (2021). Low Number of Owner-Reported Suspected Transmission of Foodborne Pathogens From Raw Meat-Based Diets Fed to Dogs and/or Cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.741575.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.741575/full

Contact:

www.northpointpets.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-cammack-8400084b/?trk=author_mini-profile_title