One of the most commonly asked questions we get from pet owners is, “What is the best food to feed my pet?”
While there are many options to consider when purchasing your pet’s food, what you really need to question is research vs. marketing.
Research vs. Marketing: Where Does the Pet Food Company Spend Its Money?
Some pet food companies spend a lot of their dollars on marketing tactics and promoting their food through high-budget advertising. More often than not, they use terms with limited or no legal definitions like “all-natural,” “human-grade,” and “protein rich.”
The FDA does carry regulations for pet food, just as they do for human food, and does regulate label claims as they pertain to medical claims such as: “maintains urinary tract health,” “Low Magnesium,” and “Hairball Control.” However, terms used by pet food companies such as “all-natural,” and “protein rich,” are not regulated, and are used mostly for marketing purposes. The FDA ensures that the ingredients used are safe and have appropriate function, but does not require feeding trials or analysis. (more…)