Debbie Phillips-DonaldsonDebbie Phillips-Donaldson is editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry magazine and Petfood Forum.From the Author - Page 62Pet Food MarketPetfood industry could learn from new study on GMO labeling mandatesAs yet another US state considers mandating labeling of food products with information on inclusion of ingredients that have been genetically modified (otherwise known as GMOs), a new paper looks at the potential impact—positive and negative—of such mandates. The latest state jumping into the GMO labeling debate is Vermont. Its legislature recently passed a bill that would make it the first state to require mandatory labeling of any foods containing ingredients that had been “genetically engineered.” The governor is expected to soon sign it into law.NutritionPet obesity: Tackling the ‘fat gap’Two studies released in March show that pet obesity is becoming an all too common problem in developed petfood markets. First, UK's Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) issued “Pet Obesity: Five Years On,” an update to an initial report from 2009. The picture now does not look any better than it did then.Pet Food MarketWho influences pet owners’ petfood purchasing decisions?US dog owners are most likely to received petfood recommendations from their veterinarians, followed by a friend or family member, then a pet store, according to the GfK PetInsights Study. While this is not a surprise, the study, presented on during Petfood Forum Asia 2014 by Pushan Tagore, director of pet nutrition services for GfK's Animal Health division, revealed some interesting insights on who and what influences the petfood purchasing decisions for US pet owners.Pet Food MarketMars-P&G petfood deal a surprise on some levelsLast week’s big news that Mars Inc. had agreed to buy 80% of Procter & Gamble’s petfood business was and wasn’t a surprise. Everyone knew P&G was eager to sell its petfood brands (Iams, Eukanuba and Natura); CEO A.G. Lafley said as much over six months ago, when he told analysts the company was looking to off-load its under-performing business units. While he named no specific units at the time, he did say it would involve products that, combined, represented less than 10% of P&G sales, and that definitely included the petfood brands.Pet Food MarketPetfood Forum 2014 by the numbersThe global petfood industry wrapped up another Petfood Forum and Petfood Workshop this week. A lot happened in three days, so perhaps it’s best to sum up the conferences with a list of noteworthy (and somewhat random) numbers.Pet Food MarketUS petfood spending keys on wellness, treatsOverall US pet care spending is projected to grow nearly 5% this year, topping out at US$58.5 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Of that, US petfood spending is expected to reach US$22.62 billion by the end of 2014, after increasing 4.5% in 2013 to a total of US$21.57 billion, APPA said.Pet Food MarketDeveloped petfood markets tackle common pet obesity problem in various waysThe US and the UK share the distinction of being among the largest and most mature petfood markets globally. Unfortunately, they also share a problem that's becoming all too common in developed markets: pet obesity. How these various markets approach the issue makes for an interesting study.Pet Food MarketGlobal Pet Expo news: petfood spending, natural cat treats, superfoodsAt Global Pet Expo 2014 (GPE), held last week in Orlando, Florida, USA, the story was all about growth: Overall US pet care spending is projected to grow nearly 5% this year, topping out at US$58.5 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), organizer of the show. Of that, US petfood spending is expected to reach US$22.62 billion by the end of 2014 after increasing 4.5% in 2013 to a total of US$21.57 billion, APPA said.Pet Food MarketWill "natural"? petfood claims ever be regulated?When a group of petfood, feed and human food organizations announced their new GMO-related initiative, the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, in February, nearly lost amid the news was this reason given for forming the coalition and pushing for US federal legislation on GMOs (genetically modified organisms): so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would define the term "natural" for its use on food and beverage products so human food and beverage companies and consumers have a consistent legal framework for food labels while informing consumer choice.Pet Food MarketFDA: get your petfood safety facts straight"Most petfood is safe, but sometimes petfood and treats can become contaminated with bacteria that can not only make your pet sick, but you sick." That's one of the first few statements in a video recently released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called "Pet Food and Treats in Your Home." The narrator, Dr. April Hodges a nutritional scientist with FDA, goes on to say, "Salmonella is one of the best known bacteria that can be found in petfood or on pet treats, but it's not the only one." OK, stop right there, Dr. Hodges.Pet Food IngredientsWhat is GMOs’ role in feeding pets and people?The global population, currently at about 7.15 billion people, is forecast to grow to 9.6 billion people by 2050, leading to a 69% higher need for food calories, according to the World Resources Institute. Likewise, the world’s pet population is expected to continue to increase, with the fastest growth in places that are also experiencing the most growth in human population or demand for food, such as China and India.Pet Food MarketDel Monte – er, Big Heart – takes next step in focus on petfoodWhat’s in a name? Perhaps a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, to paraphrase the Bard, but in the hypercompetitive petfood market, does a name like Big Heart Pet Brands have what it takes to lead and even dominate?Previous PagePage 62 of 83Next Page
