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February 13 , 2006
Tips on choosing
the right food for your pet
Selecting the proper diet for your companion pet can help ensure a happy,
healthy life for your dog or cat. But did you know that
your pet’s health and well being can be tarnished by improper handling
and storage once you bring the pet food home? Even the most stringent manufacturing
requirements can be diminished by improper care at home.
Southern States, a leading pet food manufacturer and retailer of Performance
Plus®, Pro Balanced®, Pro-Pet®, Big Red® and Li’l Red® dog
and cat foods, offers the following tips to selecting and caring for your pet’s
food.
Manufacturing
According to Richard Sellers, vice president of feed control and nutrition
for the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), good manufacturing practices
(GMP) are synonymous with good business practices. Current GMP regulation
places an emphasis on good housekeeping, predetermined systematic procedures,
effective controls and records providing a meaningful history of operation.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), an international program
designed to ensure safety of all food and feed products, is suspected to be
mandated in the near future. Southern States is taking a leadership role in
conforming to these new standards, and all Southern States pet food manufacturing
facilities will be certified under HACCP by early summer 2006.
"We want our customers to have full confidence in choosing us as their
pet food manufacturer. HACCP certification gives them the assurance that the
food products they buy from us are safe and healthy for their pets," said
Rich Schneider, feed marketing manager, Southern States.
Pet
Food Safety Tips Printable Tip Sheet |
1. Brand/Guarantee: Buy a known brand from a reputable
manufacturer who stands by their pet food with a money back guarantee.
2. Ensure the diet is right for your pet: All pet foods
are required to have an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)
statement displayed in the Ingredient and Analysis section. Pet foods
are designed to provide all the nutrition required to maintain your pet
for life stage indicated in the AAFCO statement. There are several nutrient
profiles – including
products for puppies, performance, adult/maintenance, dogs, and of course
one for growth and reproduction.
3. Snacks and treats: Snacks and treats are a reward,
not a substitute for a complete and balanced meal plan. Used in excess,
they may unbalance a pet’s diet.
4. Kitchen hazards: According to the American Veterinary Medical Association,
there are many products found in the kitchen that may be harmful or potentially
deadly to dogs and cats. Among the most common are: coffee grounds, chocolate,
fatty foods, alcohol, grapes/raisins, onions, tea, salt, garlic and garbage.
5. Packaging and storage: Don’t buy food stored outside or purchase
a broken bag. Check the sell by/manufacturing date and only purchase a
month’s
supply. Store food in an air-tight container, away from heat and moisture.
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Ensure the diet meets the requirement
of your pet!
All pet foods are required to have an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control
Officials) statement displayed in the Ingredient and Analysis section of
the bag. Pet foods can be formulated to meet a nutrient profile or have passed
a feeding trial, and are designed to provide all the nutrition required to
maintain your pet for life stage indicated in the AAFCO statement. There
are several nutrient profiles – including products for puppies, performance,
adult/maintenance, dogs and of course one for growth and reproduction.
Snacks and treats
While pets who look at you with those soulful eyes can be irresistible when
it comes to begging for a treat, snacks and treats are generally not designed
to provide your pet with complete and balanced nutrition. Snacks and treats
should be fed in conjunction with a complete and balanced diet. While an
occasional treat is fine, snacks, treats and table scraps used in excess
may unbalance a pet’s diet.
Packaging and storage
When selecting a product off the shelves, make sure the bag is intact and secure:
not torn, broken, dirty or damaged. All pet food should have a code date
or provide a best if used by date – ask your local retailer to explain
the date code if you have any questions.
Once you have brought the product home, store the food in a dry, tightly sealed
glass, metal or rigid plastic container. Improper storage increases the risk
of loss palatability and nutritional value. Do not store the food near stoves,
hot water pipes or heating ducts as heat and moisture can cause food to lose
its quality more rapidly. Be on the alert for insect infestation, which can
occur in any home. Discard the pet food if it is moldy or smells different
than when you first brought it home, or if it becomes infested.
Money back guarantees
Look for pet food manufacturers who stand by their pet food with a money back
guarantee.
Kitchen hazards
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the following foods
could be harmful or potentially deadly to dogs and cats:
• Coffee grounds
• Chocolate
• Yeast dough
• Macadamia nuts
• Fatty foods
• Avocado
• Grapes/raisins
• Onions
• Tea
• Alcohol
• Salt
• Garlic
• Chewing gum, candy and breath fresheners containing xylitol
• Garbage – rotting foods contain molds or bacteria that could produce
food poisoning
Southern States is committed to leading the way in providing
quality and nutritious foods for your family’s dog and cats. |
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