Becoming a pet owner can be expensive, including pet insurance, grooming costs, and meeting daily needs. However, most pet owners love their dogs, cats, rabbits, and other non-human family members and care about what they eat. However, it's not always easy to know if they're getting it right.
How do you know when a pet food company is lying? We've identified some of the most obvious fibers.
1. “List the ingredients with the highest content first.”
American consumers have been taught that the first ingredient listed on the bag or can of pet food is the “main” ingredient. And pet food companies know that pet owners want meat as the main ingredient. Some companies have found clever ways to get around this problem. Take a look at this example.
Ingredients: Beef (25%), Rice (20%), Corn (15%), Ground Yellow Corn (10%), Corn Gluten Meal (10%), Pea Protein (10%), Potato (5%), Potato Starch (5%)
At first glance, it appears that the main ingredient in pet food is beef. However, if you look closely, you will see that the main ingredient is corn. Pet food companies know that if they categorize their corn products into different categories, they can list each of those categories lower down the list. In this example, if we add up the three different types of corn, we can see that corn makes up 35% of the total raw materials.
Instead, do this: Look for the same word repeated in different forms. In this example, corn is listed three different ways.
2. “This pet food provides the following amount of protein.”
If you're looking for a protein-rich diet for your pet, you might be fooled by pet food packaging that says “60% protein!”
While it is reasonable to assume that most consumers believe that 60% of their protein comes from all meat, this is often not the case. While pet foods may contain meat and eggs, they are just as likely to have added plant proteins that are difficult to digest, such as wheat gluten meal or pea protein. Adding plant protein lowers costs for manufacturers and allows them to claim that their food is rich in the nutrients shoppers are looking for, even if it's not good for the pet.
Instead, do this: Don't just take the manufacturer's word for it. Check the percentage of meat or egg-based protein.
3. “This food is 100% grain-free.”
This is more of a partial truth than a lie. Once pet food manufacturers decide to go grain-free, they often look for other ways to keep costs low and profits high. What some companies have settled on is to include more simple carbohydrates, such as peas, potatoes, and tapioca, which do little to improve your pet's health.
Instead, do this: Rather than just taking the pet food company's word for it, check the entire ingredient list to see how many simple carbohydrates are in the food. Cats and dogs need very few carbohydrates in their diets. For cats, it's about 10% to 15%, and for dogs, it's about 7% to 14%. Check the ingredients listed on the package. If it's high in carbohydrates, you know the manufacturer is substituting carbohydrates for grains.
4. “100% hypoallergenic”
Animals have probably always had allergies, but allergies are now being diagnosed more widely than ever before. Pet food companies have entered the niche of selling foods that claim to be hypoallergenic to concerned pet families. You need to be careful here. There is no such thing as a “hypoallergenic” pet food. Pets can develop allergies to any food they come into contact with.
The only way to find a hypoallergenic food is to find one that does not contain the ingredients that your pet is allergic to. There is no way for pet food manufacturers to create food for every potential allergen.
Instead, do this: If your veterinarian tells you your pet has an allergy, ask them to identify the specific allergen. Once you know what your pet is allergic to, purchase food that is free of allergens. If your vet recommends a prescription diet, check to see if your pet insurance will cover some of the cost. This is not a given, but it may be the case with some insurance plans.
5. “Dietary pet food will help your pet lose weight.”
Like many common human diets, pet diets often consist of reduced fat foods. However, when dog food manufacturers cut fat from their formulas, they tend to add more carbohydrates to their recipes. Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets are likely to have little effect on your pet's weight loss. What will be reduced is the size of your checking account.
Run this instead: Rather than investing in expensive diet pet food, consider reducing the amount of your pet's regular diet and supplementing it with high-quality meat. Protein gives your pet energy and helps them lose weight.
At least for now, misleading advertising seems to be the norm in the world. Until consumer protections are strengthened, you should carefully research which claims to believe and which to discard.
