“The video, and also our website, are assets for pet food [companies] to use to highlight rigor in their manufacturing process.” PFI CEO and President Cathy Enright told Petfood Industry. “We’d encourage any pet food company to share the video on their social media channels, websites, newsletters or any other public education platform.”
The video focuses on cat and dog nutrition, as well as state and federal regulatory guidelines pet food and treat companies must follow. Under this regulatory oversight, the video details that pet food and treat makers must:
work with reliable ingredient suppliers,
maintain hygienic and secure facilities,
conduct inspections and testing of ingredients,
monitor manufacturing, and
develop traceability assurances during packaging.
Uses for the pet food production video
PFI’s goal for the video is quick, clear communication of their message that U.S.-made pet food is safe and nutritious. Enright suggested that pet food companies use the video with a wide range of key audiences ranging from government officials to journalists to consumers.
“We’re using it when speaking with media outlets, both reactively and proactively,” she said. “We’re using this with legislators and others who might not know what goes into making pet food.”
Enright plans to use the video at the National Council of State Legislators to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Last year at that meeting, PFI representatives spoke with approximately 600 legislators about issues related to pet food. This year, Enright plans to run the video at their booth and give out usb drives with the video.
“I think the pet food industry is in a very unique position because while talking to legislators, regulators, media or the general public, guess what they all have in common.” She said. “They all love pets.
“It’s different than if you are a steel manufacturer,” she said. “That legislator might not be that personally connected.”
Watch the PFI video
"How Pet Food is Made" can be viewed on PFI's website, or on Youtube.
Tim Wall covers the dog, cat and other pet food industries as a senior reporter for WATT Global Media. His work has appeared inScientific American, Live Science, Discovery News, Honduras Weekly, Global Journalist and other outlets. He holds an M.A. in journalism and an M.S. in natural resources, both
from the University of Missouri - Columbia, along with a bachelor's degree in biology.
Wall served in the Peace Corps in Honduras from 2005 to 2007, where he coordinated with the town government of Moroceli to organize a municipal trash collection system, taught environmental science, translated for medical brigades and facilitated sustainable agriculture, along with other projects.
A new year brings new opportunities and excitement, and 2023 is bound to be the same, with several chances for advancing policy issues of importance to the U.S. animal food industry.
