Don't panic yet about peas and potatoes in dog food diets

There is likely more to the canine dilated cardiomyopathy story than the current focus on only grain-free pet foods would suggest.

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

August 9, 2018

photo by MicrostockStudio, shutterstock.com

photo by MicrostockStudio, shutterstock.com

Whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) realized it or not, their recent warning letter (July 12, 2018) regarding dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs has implicated all grain-free diets, not just those fed to dogs suffering from this disease. The implication that all diets containing legumes and tubers are somehow suspect is a big stretch, but that is how the market is reading it.

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Ingredient Issues

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Streamlining the acceptance process would go a long way towards advancing pet nutrition options for pet food manufacturers.

The pet food industry has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the efficiency of ingredient acceptance regulations and processes.

Fibers and Legumes

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Processing Functional Ingredients

Locust bean gum (carob bean gum) use in canned pet foods

Locust (carob) bean gum is a GRAS additive with limited controversy that is complementary to carrageenan in canned pet foods.

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Fibers and Legumes

Spinach: Is this original superfood beneficial for dogs and cats?

Packed with nutrition and knows as a superfood in the human food world, spinach can be a good addition to pet foods.

Spinach is a staple in the “superfoods” world among humans, and it seems to have great potential to serve the same purpose in pet foods. | (virtu studio | Shutterstock.com)

Fibers and Legumes

Cruciferous vegetables: “Superfoods” in dog and cat diets?

We take a look at kale and broccoli as health beneficial ingredients in pet foods, as well as cruciferous vegetables in general and their place in human and pet products.

Cruciferous vegetables do find their way into pet foods, but their health claims are based largely on human food research rather than the little-available pet research. | (Kira_Yan I Shutterstock.com)

Fibers and Legumes

An apple a day keeps the vet away … are apples safe for pets?

Including apples or apple pomace in a pet’s diet could be beneficial to pet health, but more research is needed to claim so confidently.

Apples get rave nutritional reviews in the human food space. Should they get getting equal consideration in pet foods? (Pasko Maksim | Shutterstock.com)

Fibers and Legumes

Carrots: Getting down to the root of the issue for pets

Carrots are a great source of fiber, beta-carotene and flavor in pet food formulations.

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Fibers and Legumes

Should we be using more peanuts in pet food?

Peanuts can be found in plenty of dog treats, but the same can't be said for their presence in pet foods.

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Whole soybeans: Why hasn’t pet food found this ingredient?

Whole soybeans may be the next new trend in high-performance pet foods.

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Faba beans: A new pulse for the dog and cat food market

Faba beans may be the next new grain-free ingredient in dog and cat food, according to recent research.

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Miscanthus grass: A new fiber option for dog and cat diets

Miscanthus grass, a potential alternative fiber source for pet food, is being evaluated.

In recent studies, Miscanthus grass performed similarly to many other fiber sources for pet food formulation, and it may have promise as a hairball reduction ingredient. (olrat | iStockPhoto.com)

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Legume seed oligosaccharides: How much is just right in dog and cat diets?

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(S.Piyaset, istockphoto.com)

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