“Our children are grown, and our Beagle, Max is our baby. We would do anything to keep him safe.”

A few months ago, the thought of purchasing organic pet food or preparing home-cooked meals for a dog or cat might have seemed obsessive even to the most devoted pet lover. But with tainted pet food being blamed for numerable pet deaths, preparing salmon and sweet potatoes or seeking organic pet food for the family’s furry companion suddenly sounds sensible to many more people. This has meant shelling out a fair bit more on an organic pet food or spending some time in their kitchen (maybe even re-familiarizing themselves with their oven and roasting pans). Perhaps it's not even organic that pet owners want but a higher quality food with more natural ingredients. Wanting to know the origin of our own food is a fast-growing trend and is now extending to four-legged family members as people are increasingly elevating pets to family member status. Many pet owners feel this means doing what you can to keep them healthy, including organic food, filtered water and maybe even acupuncture for Spot’s skin rash.

Menu Foods Inc., which makes pet food for most of North America’s top retailers recalled 95 brands of products believed to be responsible for the deaths of cats and dogs around the country. Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focused on the filler ingredient wheat gluten, which was purchased in China. Scientists have not offered any theories on how melamine got into the wheat-gluten. Melamine is a chemical used to make fertilizers and plastic utensils.

Growing Demand for Organic Pet Food

Prior to the Menu Foods, Inc. recall in March, pet owners were already contributing to the booming sales of organic and natural pet food. Specialty food stores that cater to health-minded consumers have seen an increase in sales in the natural and organic pet foods that has been growing at 15 to 25 percent a year. Proponents of natural and organic pet foods and treats say those products can help prevent disease in dogs and cats. Some products avoid chemical preservatives, fats, fillers, salt and sugar. Others are free of ingredients exposed to pesticides, herbicides or insecticides that also may harm pets.

The fast growth of the organic pet food industry and disagreement about what qualifies as organic food led to the creation of an Organic Pet Food Task Force. The task force has proposed labeling standards that organic manufacturers would have to meet in addition to existing requirements that apply to all pet foods. A committee of the USDA's National Organic Standards Board is reviewing the standards that could go into effect by 2008.

While this has been devastating for many pet owners, there is one thing we have learned from this fiasco and that is to question the origin of our own food as well as our pet’s food.  Consumers are now realizing that the ‘premium’ food they have been feeding their pets is not much different from generic store brands.  For much of the pet food industry, co-packaging (or producing generic products using a third party manufacturer alongside branded products with identical ingredients and a higher price point) has been in place for years. Consumers are justifiably outraged, yet they are beginning to realize that outsourcing ingredients such as wheat gluten from China is an unsustainable practice with limited benefits. But why has this take so long to surface? Cost-cutting on the manufacturer’s side is to blame as well as consumer desire for cheaper foods. If something is cheaper but appears to be a quality product, we rarely question the details. Perhaps the loss of a pet or seeing a faithful companion who relies on us to keep them safe from harm suffering will act as a catalyst for change.

What steps can pet owners take?

You love Spot like the dickens, so a little extra work is small price to pay for his unconditional love. Here are a few suggestions:

• Investigate where the brand of your pet’s food is manufactured and inquire about the origin of ingredients.
• Take it a step further and look for a USDA certified organic or Tilth certified organic pet food that is approved by your veterinarian. Some cats and dog breeds require a specific balance of nutrients and you want to make sure your pet’s food reflects this.
• Get your inner Emeril Lagasse out and try a cook book: “Real Food for Dogs” sold out on Amazon recently as many pet owners have taken to making lamb stew with quinoa and carrots for their pooch. Cooking for your pet is the most sure fire (though perhaps most time consuming) way to eliminate doubt surrounding what your pet is eating.
• Be aware that many common foods are not safe for pets, including salt, garlic, onions, grapes and chocolate.
• Take a trip to your local pet shop. Visit the library. Buy books. Talk to other dog and cat aficionados!
• If you're vet doesn't have the information on home cooked diets, seek out a holistic veterinarian or canine nutritionist. Remember, as Fifi ages, her nutritional and caloric requirements will change.
• Consider a RAW diet for your pet. Many pet owners have found that feeding their pet raw food from a reputable outlet has improved allergies and digestive disorders that many cats and dogs suffer from. Visit http://search.onlynaturalpet.com for more information.

The objective of all pet owners is to keep their pets safe. Home-cooked food is an option during this transition period when there are still more questions than answers. Some consumers say they are cooking for their pet temporarily, and then plan on feeding their pet certified organic food once they feel confident enough to purchase processed pet food once again.

Do you have a favorite organic or natural pet food your dog or cat just loves? Or maybe a favorite dish you make just for them? Write in and let us know!

Here are a few resources to get started:

Cheers!
Melissa

About Melissa
Melissa has extensive experience in both the natural food industry as well as qualitative research. She has worked as a certified chef, specializing in whole foods cuisine and in the natural products retail sector. Melissa's research experience includes the European soy foods industry and the natural products consumer in the UK. Melissa's research interests are focused on dietary trends, functional foods and sports nutrition.
_EDUCATION:
MS National University of Ireland, Cork
BS Communications, Emerson College, Boston