The TODAY Show - NBC
Updated: 11:54 a.m. PT April 3, 2007
In the latest development in the pet food scare, the FDA said that it had not found rat poison in the tainted pet food, but melamine, a chemical commonly used to make plastic cutlery, and also used in fertilizer in Asia.
Hours after the announcement, the nationwide pet food recall, which had involved only so-called wet foods — all manufactured by Menu Foods and sold under a variety of brand names — was expanded to include one brand of dry cat food, Prescription Diet m/d Feline, made by Hills Pet Nutrition
The brand was found to have been made with a batch of wheat gluten shipped to the United States from China that the FDA said was laced with melamine.
Dr. Karen Halligan explains which ingredients pet owners should look out for and avoid, and steps to insure you are buying safe food.
What is wheat gluten?
Gluten is a glycoprotein that's found in wheat, oat and barley. It's used to thicken, and to make gravy in wet food. It may also be used in dry food as part of a protein supplement or a carbohydrate source.
How to pick a good dog food
You want to pick a dog food that conforms to minimal AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards because AAFCO officials strictly regulate pet food.
You want to pick pet foods that have good sources of animal protein. If you look at the ingredient list, it is listed in descending order by amount — just like humans. So the first two or three ingredients should be some type of animal protein — chicken, beef, fish, lamb, beef or turkey. They shouldn't be vegetable, wheat or grain, or animal by-products.
Also, the pet food — can or bag — should have an expiration date. And it should have a phone number and/or Web site, so you can call the company and ask questions. These are the things that are going to be on high-quality pet foods. You also want to look for natural preservatives, like vitamin C or vitamin E, and stay away from chemical preservatives. Ethoxyquine is one that they used years back that was determined to be a carcinogenic, and are no longer using.
Avoid generic-label or store-label brands because the food is probably from bulk suppliers. Don't pick products that have unidentified meat or bone meal. It's got to specify the protein(i.e. chicken, turkey, salmon).
Avoid preservatives that are controversial: BHT, ethoxyquine, BHA and propolyneglycol. Those are things you don't want to see on the label.
Key points
Make sure there are no wheat or wheat gluten products in your pet food, and monitor your pet's behavior to be sure your pet is well.
Avoid these ingredients
Wheat or wheat gluten
BHT
Ethoxyquine
BHA
Propylene glycol
How to pick safe food
Read ingredient labels
Find AAFCO stamp
Check expiration date
Get contact information
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7 comments:
wow, you are quite concerned about this. exactly how many pets do you have? in my house we have 4 dogs, 4 cats, 2 guinea pigs, a lop-eared rabbit, and an anole. this, of course, does not include my 4 kids. and still we are not as concerned as you. is this why cats dig you?
Not only did I grow up on a farm, I grew up at THE farm. Grandpa Ted taught me (drilled into my head for years) that you measure a person's character by the way he treats animals. This goes for judging a society as well. Judging by the current American government's attitude and lack of respect for everything good, I worry for all of us, people and pets
ah yes, I understand. write a post about it, please. something by you.
Not sure exactly what to post. The time he insisted that if I were to eat ham and bacon that I watch a pig being slaughtered so I would know where my food comes from? Maybe not. I'll think of something.
what I mean is, instead of just posting the articles reinterpret them into what you want to say and how it affects you. also, cite your sources by using links.
I should do that, but there is a distinct possibility that I am too lazy. Probably shiftless too.
I've considered that. hence the prodding.
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