Why is this not ILLEGAL????

[Dixie Cruise]

Okay, I am outraged now.  I am seriously angry.  I have been looking for a more healthy food for my lovely Cosmo (different thread) and have thus been spending too much time reading dog food ingredients.  I know some are better than others, but just on a lark, I checked the ingredients of one I already knew would be full of cheap and inappropriate ingredients ... I am beyond shocked at how bad it is.  I won't name the dog food for risk of being sued (seeing as I live in the USA ... say no more), but here is a cut and paste for you ... I could go on for hours with the problems I see with this list ... it truly should be illegal.  Unbelievable. 

 

Ingredients: Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soy protein concentrate, soy flour, water, rice flour, pearled barley, sugar, tricalcium phosphate, propylene glycol, animal digest, dicalcium phosphate, salt, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried spinach, dried apples, dried sweet potatoes, choline chloride, calcium propionate (a preservative), added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Yellow 6), Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, DL-Methionine, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

[Sue and Cash]

My first guess was purina dog chow but the colors in there suggest it could be purina beneful! Or at least kibbles n bits maybe, again because of the colors added. Years ago that was about what was offered in kibbles. Corn, corn gluten and wheat! But I have met many dogs who live to a ripe old age eating such diets. Which leads one to think is spending 80.00 for a bag of dog food necessary? Or would a middle of the road product be just as good? I do not have the answers, just asking the questions. Now if your dog has allergies then obviously a better grain free food would be appropriate for quality of life reasons. But will all of the super expensive, grain free foods lead to longer life spans? Or are we not focused enough on enviornment, genetics and a stress free life. Time will tell since the trend is all about grain free, home cooking and raw these days. It just seems to me that our dogs as children, growing up, lived on pretty gross diets and yet they were healthier than the dogs today are. I can't explain it. Just throwing it up for discussion. And for the record you can't be sued for saying what food it is or bashing it in a public forum. People bash dog foods all over the internet.

[Dixie Cruise]

You're pretty good ... it IS Beniful. I agree that I have had many long-lived dogs who ate nothing but Purina Dog Chow, which certainly fails many of the ingredient tests I now hold dear. Still, it seems to me that as we learn that wheat and corn do nothing but pass straight through ... the makers of these foods should have some responsibility to attempt to make it as healthy as the currently known science allows. Or at least quit advertising how great their food is when it is no better than Old Roy (which just happens to have an irish setter pictured on its bag!!) My sister would be quick to point out that I spend more feeding my dog than many people around the world do feeding their children ...

[Sue and Cash]

I hear ya Gigi! I know many who will openly say I would only eat mac n cheese as long as my dog will eat holistic food. I am thinking that perhaps both the human and dog could eat in the middle. Like not mac n cheese for me and steak for you but hamburger for both! I have enough trouble just getting dinners made for the family I know that homecooking for my dog isn't likely. I do give him a tablespoon of canned mixed with the kibble and you can buy the wellness canned which is 95% meat or fish. So it is decent and makes a good addition to the kibble. And the marketing dept for Beneful has done a great job of duping the public into thinking that those peas, carrots and chunks of meat on the package are really all in there. Well the colors of the peas, carrots and meat are for sure just looking at the amount of dyes they use. I product demo'ed for Purina for many years but they focused on Pro plan and not the grocery aisle foods. If I can get a nice energy level, glossy coat and good stool, then I feel the product is working well. Meat first, avoid the glutens and you will be just fine. I have tried high end foods and messed up my dogs stool and anals. I am sticking with what is working for now. Which for us is Eukanuba.

[JOANNE]

Hi Gigi
My husband complains that I spend more money on dog food than I do for him:). But I agree with you. One afternoon after a dog show my friend with whom I own my Gordon Setters with had a look at many indredients in dog food, well we were stunned.I had been paying $140.00 for Eukanuba but after some research found a better food, an Australian brand, much better quality and after a week on the new diet all dogs were looking better, coats, substance etc. I do not know how some manufacturers can justify the cost with some of the ingredients used.

[Lois McCullough]

Sounds a bit like looking at what goes into our food!! When you know what is put on the ground that animals will be grazing on and then back into the food chain it's enough to make you want to give up eating altogether - I won't go any further down that route. We feed our 'boys' on freshly cooked chicken breasts, shin of beef and tongue mixed with a wheatmeal mixer no additives so they have variety in their diet - not saying it's right however at least I think I know what they're eating. The slow cooker is on most days and the meat is bought from a supermarket for human consumption. I have always fed my Irish on freshly cooked meat and Dempsey and Sheena reached the grand old age of 15.

Good luck Lois

[Dixie Cruise]

Cosmo poops five to six times a day ... I attributed this to his being a puppy and growing quickly, but now I am thinking it is more related to eating the lower protein and thus higher carb food. When I report back on the new food, I will include details on yard waste too. I know you all can hardly wait for the excruciating details! :)