Petfood Industry recently published an article exploring the challenges pet food companies face in obtaining pet food safety certifications and why those certifications are important to the health of the industry and consumers alike.
While all pet food manufacturers in the United States are required to adhere to the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA) to ensure their food is produced safely, many voluntary seek additional certifications from other third party organizations to maintain high levels of safety and quality assurance. Obtaining additional certification carries the benefit of being able to advertise a higher level of quality to customers, but, according to many in the industry, bigger benefits come from reduced risk for consumers and downstream partners.
“Having a third-party food safety certification validates the design and implementation of the food safety system and provides opportunities to look for any room for improvements in the system. We don’t just see it as a competitive advantage; we want to get food safety right for everyone, not just for us. If there’s a recall, for example, it doesn’t matter where it originates from — the whole industry suffers.”
— Gayan Hettiarachchi, Director of Food Safety, Champion Petfoods
To see the challenges pet food makers are up against in reaching for higher standards — as well as what’s at stake if they don’t — check out the full article on petfoodindustry.com.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-17 11:03:262017-08-22 19:01:04Pet Food Safety Certification Benefits the Industry as Well as Consumers
What’s the carbon footprint of your pet? According to a new study, it might be larger than you’d expect.
The study, published earlier this month in PLOS One, examines the environmental impact of pets — specifically, their diets. According to the study’s author, UCLA professor Gregory Okin, approximately 25 – 30% of the carbon emissions related to meat production in the United States — roughly 64 million tons of carbon dioxide — can be attributed to meat consumed by pets.
The food we feed our pets, just like the food we feed ourselves, is made up of ingredients that are grown and produced from a variety of sources. Some of those sources (e.g., meat) require more energy and resources than others (e.g., vegetables) to produce. Consequently, foods that contain more resource intensive ingredients also carry a larger impact on the environment.
The study’s results come at a time when the pet food industry is heavily engaged in improving sustainability but also as consumers’ demand for grain-free pet foods is higher than ever. So what can consumers do to reduce the environmental impact of their pets’ diets? According to the study’s author, there aren’t yet any clear, simple solutions.
“I like dogs and cats, and I’m definitely not recommending that people get rid of their pets or put them on a vegetarian diet, which would be unhealthy. But I do think we should consider all the impacts that pets have so we can have an honest conversation about them. Pets have many benefits, but also a huge environmental impact.”
— Gregory Okin, Professor, UCLA
According to Okin, part of the increased environmental impact of pets is cultural in nature. Trends like humanization, in which pet owners seek out human-quality products and services for their pets, are resulting in more resource-intensive ingredients going into pet foods. As humanization continues to be a driving force in the United States, China, and Brazil, Okin expects the environmental impact of pets to increase there as well.
While shifting dogs and cats to vegetarian diets is out of the question for Okin and others, he does suggest the use of alternative protein sources and safe meat byproducts as a possible way to reduce the environmental impact of pet foods. However, for consumers used to giving their pets human-quality foods, that may be a tough suggestion to swallow.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-16 11:58:472017-08-22 18:58:46The Environmental Impact of Pet Diets
Five finalists have been selected for each of the awards’ five category areas. From these five finalists, one winner will be selected for each category. The 2017 finalists are:
Advocate
Ann Marie Hoff
Barbara Zawlocki (Lick Magazine)
Beth Miller (Wagtown)
Dorothy Wills-Raftery (FiveSibes)
Marci Koski (Feline Behavior Solutions)
Corporate
Gila Kurtz (Dog is Good)
Kate Jones (Platinum Pets)
Peggy Hoyt (PetWill)
Penny Johnson (Sturdi Products)
Stacy Pursell (The VET Recruiter)
Entrepreneur
Ashley Carestia (Bark Fifth Avenue)
Candace D’Agnolo (Pet Boss Nation)
Deborah Turner (Federation of Insured Dog Owners)
Jodi Clock (Clock Timeless Pets)
Robin Brogdo (BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group)
Rising Star
Aimee Jurenka (Darwin’s Natural Pet Products)
Beth Stultz (Pet Sitters International)
Carrie Ann Feinberg (Safe Haven Advocate Pet Care & Photography)
Tracy Krulik (ISpeakDog)
Rebecca Breese (PetHub)
Solopreneur
Amy Shojai (Amy Shojai Consulting)
Beke Lubeach (Dog Bone Marketing Solutions)
Kelly Ison (Einstein Pets)
Leanna Gautney (Country Critters Pet Sitters)
Mona Straub (Just Fur Fun)
Winners will be announced at the Women in the Pet industry Conference and Awards Show on September 26 in Portland, OR.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-13 08:59:062017-08-21 21:00:08Finalists Announced for Pet Industry Women of the Year
Chinese pet food company Gambol Pet Group has created an American subsidiary to produce pet treats made with ingredients sourced in the United States.
Gambol Pet USA is headquartered in Perris, California at its 50,000 square foot production facility. The new American subsidiary is the latest part of Gambol’s aim to serve customers across the globe.
Parent company Gambol Pet Group, headquartered in Shandong Province, China, is the largest producer of private-label pet treats for retail giant Walmart in North America.
“Gambol Pet USA is an American company providing more new jobs for U.S. workers. Our mission is to produce premium-quality pet treats that meet the market’s demand for safe, nutritious, wholesome products that are made in the USA with American-sourced ingredients.”
— Richard Allen, Chief Operating Officer, Gambol Pet USA
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-10 07:49:222017-08-21 18:49:26Chinese Pet Food Manufacturer to Produce Treats Made in America
Grain-free, all-natural, no-GMOs; these claims and others have dominated the pet food industry in recent years as customers continue to buy pet foods that reflect their own dietary sensibilities and beliefs. However, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Göttingen in Germany, claims about the welfare of ingredient sources may be more effective at convincing customers to purchase.
The study, published in Proceedings in System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks, suggests that claims about animal welfare issues on pet food packaging may persuade pet owners to purchase that product. Not only were customers more inclined to purchase food packaged with welfare-oriented labels, they were willing to pay more for it too. When asked whether they were willing to pay 10% more for food from welfare-compliant sources, 57% of pet owners said they would pay more compared to only 44% of non-pet owners.
While the results of the study suggest that pet owners are more likely to purchase welfare-compliant pet food and are willing to do so at a higher cost, researchers have indicated that additional research may be needed to understand how this behavior interacts with other purchasing behaviors.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-09 10:24:362017-08-21 21:24:58Animal Welfare Claims on Pet Food Convince Pet Owners to Purchase
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that several veterinary and animal welfare programs have survived this year’s federal budgeting process, despite significant proposed cuts to federal spending overall.
In spending bills approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees last month, both the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network maintained their spending levels.
The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program provides student loan repayment assistance to veterinarians who serve in National Institutes of Food and Agriculture designated veterinarian shortage situations.
The National Animal Health Laboratory Network is a partnership of animal health laboratories across the United States that serves to detect, respond to, and recover from animal health emergencies.
A bill has been introduced to the United States House of Representatives that, if passed into law, would create a program to provide more trained service dogs to veterans.
The bill, H.R. 3335, known as the “Pups for Patriots Act of 2017,” was introduced to the House of Representatives by Congresspersons Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX). In addition to prompting the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a service dog program for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), the bill would also require the program to adhere to national standards regarding service dog training.
The bill comes as a response to an increasing need to support veterans comping with TBI and PTSD.An average of 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Scientific evidence suggests service dogs are well-suited to help veterans manage the symptoms of TBI, PTSD and related disorders. However, the current process for training dogs can cost upward of $30,000 per dog while waiting lists often require recipients to wait a year or more to receive a service dog. H.R. 3335 would likely reduce both of those figures.
The bill has received support from both sides of the aisle as well as American Humane.
“We must supply a greater number of better-trained service dogs more quickly to America’s veterans grappling with Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury. The Pups for Patriots Act is a vital step forward in helping protect those who have given so much to protect us and our freedom.”
Dr. Robin Ganzert, President & CEO, American Humane
A full description of the bill, as well as a summary of its progress, can be found at congress.gov.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-05 09:19:562017-08-21 18:20:34Bill Introduced to Supply Service Dogs to Veterans
Despite substantial evidence that pet food ingredients containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe, many consumers continue to view them with skepticism.
During this year’s Petfood Forum, Global Nutrition Advisor for Waltham, Richard Butterwick, discussed some of the perceptions — and misconceptions — surrounding GMOs. According to Butterwick, much of consumers’ mistrust of GMOs stems from a history of unsafe products and ingredients (such as trans fats and bisphenol A) having previously been deemed safe combined with a lack of trust in scientists and science in general. Consequently, 65% of consumers claim they would prefer pet foods without GMO-based ingredients.
To respond to consumer demand, many pet food companies have developed GMO-free formulations, despite evidence of any specific benefit to pets from them.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-03 20:42:192017-08-08 13:25:39GMO Pet Foods Perceived as Unsafe by Pet Owners, Despite Evidence to the Contrary
Pets in the Classroom will be receiving a boost later this year courtesy of the Green Bay Aquarium Society.
The Green Bay Aquarium Society recently announced that its annual Fall Auction will support Pets in the Classroom. The auction is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 29, 2017, at the Starlite Club in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Doors open for sellers at 9 A.M. while bidding is scheduled to begin at 10:30 A.M. All proceeds from designated auction lots will go toward Pets in the Classroom’s grant programs.
“This is such a great opportunity. We, as a club, feel that it is important to give back to the aquatic community both locally and on the national level. Pets in the Classroom is doing really great work getting kids involved with pets that they might not get to care for at home.”
— John Moyles, President, Green Bay Aquarium Society
Additional information for attendees and sellers can be found here.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-08-01 06:28:152017-08-01 05:28:44Wisconsin Aquarium Club to Raise Funds for Pets in the Classroom
According to a new report from Banfield, a third of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight.
The study, conducted by Banfield, sampled animals at Banfield animal hospitals across the United States. The results suggest that pet obesity continues to be a growing problem for both cats and dogs. Compared to just ten years ago, the number of overweight cats and dogs increased by over 150%.
Like their human counterparts, overweight and obese pets are more likely to develop additional health problems, like diabetes and arthritis. Consequently, overweight pets are more likely to require additional veterinary care. Owners of overweight dogs spend 17% more on veterinary expenses while owners of overweight cats spend 36% more.
For additional information on the pet obesity epidemic — and what you can do to keep your pets happy and healthy — visit Banfield’s State of Pet Health microsite.
https://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.png00Jamie Branthttps://petleadershipcouncil.org/resources/uploads/pet-leadership-council-logo-sm.pngJamie Brant2017-07-28 22:18:282017-08-01 05:04:29New Report Indicates Pet Obesity on the Rise
Pet Food Safety Certification Benefits the Industry as Well as Consumers
Petfood Industry recently published an article exploring the challenges pet food companies face in obtaining pet food safety certifications and why those certifications are important to the health of the industry and consumers alike.
While all pet food manufacturers in the United States are required to adhere to the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA) to ensure their food is produced safely, many voluntary seek additional certifications from other third party organizations to maintain high levels of safety and quality assurance. Obtaining additional certification carries the benefit of being able to advertise a higher level of quality to customers, but, according to many in the industry, bigger benefits come from reduced risk for consumers and downstream partners.
To see the challenges pet food makers are up against in reaching for higher standards — as well as what’s at stake if they don’t — check out the full article on petfoodindustry.com.
Source: Why pet food safety programs are vital to industry progress
The Environmental Impact of Pet Diets
What’s the carbon footprint of your pet? According to a new study, it might be larger than you’d expect.
The study, published earlier this month in PLOS One, examines the environmental impact of pets — specifically, their diets. According to the study’s author, UCLA professor Gregory Okin, approximately 25 – 30% of the carbon emissions related to meat production in the United States — roughly 64 million tons of carbon dioxide — can be attributed to meat consumed by pets.
The food we feed our pets, just like the food we feed ourselves, is made up of ingredients that are grown and produced from a variety of sources. Some of those sources (e.g., meat) require more energy and resources than others (e.g., vegetables) to produce. Consequently, foods that contain more resource intensive ingredients also carry a larger impact on the environment.
The study’s results come at a time when the pet food industry is heavily engaged in improving sustainability but also as consumers’ demand for grain-free pet foods is higher than ever. So what can consumers do to reduce the environmental impact of their pets’ diets? According to the study’s author, there aren’t yet any clear, simple solutions.
According to Okin, part of the increased environmental impact of pets is cultural in nature. Trends like humanization, in which pet owners seek out human-quality products and services for their pets, are resulting in more resource-intensive ingredients going into pet foods. As humanization continues to be a driving force in the United States, China, and Brazil, Okin expects the environmental impact of pets to increase there as well.
While shifting dogs and cats to vegetarian diets is out of the question for Okin and others, he does suggest the use of alternative protein sources and safe meat byproducts as a possible way to reduce the environmental impact of pet foods. However, for consumers used to giving their pets human-quality foods, that may be a tough suggestion to swallow.
Source: The truth about cats’ and dogs’ environmental impact
Finalists Announced for Pet Industry Women of the Year
The Women in the Pet Industry Network has announced the finalists for the 2017 Pet Industry Women of the Year awards.
Five finalists have been selected for each of the awards’ five category areas. From these five finalists, one winner will be selected for each category. The 2017 finalists are:
Advocate
Corporate
Entrepreneur
Rising Star
Solopreneur
Winners will be announced at the Women in the Pet industry Conference and Awards Show on September 26 in Portland, OR.
Source: Women in the Pet Industry Network Announces the 2017 Finalists for Pet Industry Woman of the Year
Chinese Pet Food Manufacturer to Produce Treats Made in America
Chinese pet food company Gambol Pet Group has created an American subsidiary to produce pet treats made with ingredients sourced in the United States.
Gambol Pet USA is headquartered in Perris, California at its 50,000 square foot production facility. The new American subsidiary is the latest part of Gambol’s aim to serve customers across the globe.
Parent company Gambol Pet Group, headquartered in Shandong Province, China, is the largest producer of private-label pet treats for retail giant Walmart in North America.
Source: Chinese Pet Food Giant to Produce ‘Made in USA’ Pet Treats
Animal Welfare Claims on Pet Food Convince Pet Owners to Purchase
Grain-free, all-natural, no-GMOs; these claims and others have dominated the pet food industry in recent years as customers continue to buy pet foods that reflect their own dietary sensibilities and beliefs. However, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Göttingen in Germany, claims about the welfare of ingredient sources may be more effective at convincing customers to purchase.
The study, published in Proceedings in System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks, suggests that claims about animal welfare issues on pet food packaging may persuade pet owners to purchase that product. Not only were customers more inclined to purchase food packaged with welfare-oriented labels, they were willing to pay more for it too. When asked whether they were willing to pay 10% more for food from welfare-compliant sources, 57% of pet owners said they would pay more compared to only 44% of non-pet owners.
While the results of the study suggest that pet owners are more likely to purchase welfare-compliant pet food and are willing to do so at a higher cost, researchers have indicated that additional research may be needed to understand how this behavior interacts with other purchasing behaviors.
Source: Animal welfare claims on pet food may attract pet owners
Veterinary Programs Survive Federal Budget Cuts
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that several veterinary and animal welfare programs have survived this year’s federal budgeting process, despite significant proposed cuts to federal spending overall.
In spending bills approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees last month, both the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network maintained their spending levels.
The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program provides student loan repayment assistance to veterinarians who serve in National Institutes of Food and Agriculture designated veterinarian shortage situations.
The National Animal Health Laboratory Network is a partnership of animal health laboratories across the United States that serves to detect, respond to, and recover from animal health emergencies.
Source: Veterinary programs fare well in 2018 federal spending bills
Bill Introduced to Supply Service Dogs to Veterans
A bill has been introduced to the United States House of Representatives that, if passed into law, would create a program to provide more trained service dogs to veterans.
The bill, H.R. 3335, known as the “Pups for Patriots Act of 2017,” was introduced to the House of Representatives by Congresspersons Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX). In addition to prompting the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a service dog program for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), the bill would also require the program to adhere to national standards regarding service dog training.
The bill comes as a response to an increasing need to support veterans comping with TBI and PTSD.An average of 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Scientific evidence suggests service dogs are well-suited to help veterans manage the symptoms of TBI, PTSD and related disorders. However, the current process for training dogs can cost upward of $30,000 per dog while waiting lists often require recipients to wait a year or more to receive a service dog. H.R. 3335 would likely reduce both of those figures.
The bill has received support from both sides of the aisle as well as American Humane.
A full description of the bill, as well as a summary of its progress, can be found at congress.gov.
Source: American Humane Applauds Introduction of “Pups for Patriots Act”
GMO Pet Foods Perceived as Unsafe by Pet Owners, Despite Evidence to the Contrary
Despite substantial evidence that pet food ingredients containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe, many consumers continue to view them with skepticism.
During this year’s Petfood Forum, Global Nutrition Advisor for Waltham, Richard Butterwick, discussed some of the perceptions — and misconceptions — surrounding GMOs. According to Butterwick, much of consumers’ mistrust of GMOs stems from a history of unsafe products and ingredients (such as trans fats and bisphenol A) having previously been deemed safe combined with a lack of trust in scientists and science in general. Consequently, 65% of consumers claim they would prefer pet foods without GMO-based ingredients.
To respond to consumer demand, many pet food companies have developed GMO-free formulations, despite evidence of any specific benefit to pets from them.
Source: GMO pet foods may be safe, but are rejected by pet owners
Wisconsin Aquarium Club to Raise Funds for Pets in the Classroom
Pets in the Classroom will be receiving a boost later this year courtesy of the Green Bay Aquarium Society.
The Green Bay Aquarium Society recently announced that its annual Fall Auction will support Pets in the Classroom. The auction is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 29, 2017, at the Starlite Club in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Doors open for sellers at 9 A.M. while bidding is scheduled to begin at 10:30 A.M. All proceeds from designated auction lots will go toward Pets in the Classroom’s grant programs.
Additional information for attendees and sellers can be found here.
Source: Wisconsin Aquarium Club to Hold Fundraising Event for Pets in the Classroom
New Report Indicates Pet Obesity on the Rise
According to a new report from Banfield, a third of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight.
The study, conducted by Banfield, sampled animals at Banfield animal hospitals across the United States. The results suggest that pet obesity continues to be a growing problem for both cats and dogs. Compared to just ten years ago, the number of overweight cats and dogs increased by over 150%.
Like their human counterparts, overweight and obese pets are more likely to develop additional health problems, like diabetes and arthritis. Consequently, overweight pets are more likely to require additional veterinary care. Owners of overweight dogs spend 17% more on veterinary expenses while owners of overweight cats spend 36% more.
For additional information on the pet obesity epidemic — and what you can do to keep your pets happy and healthy — visit Banfield’s State of Pet Health microsite.
Source: This is why your pet might need to go on a diet