We see the headlines oft repeated … no corn, no soy, no wheat. So, what is wrong with corn? Nothing really. It simply became a wedge issue when many start-up pet food companies were getting their foot in the door (on the shelf) in pet retail during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As has been described in this column many times, ingredients are merely tools in the nutrient delivery tool box for formulators. Said another way, every ingredient has its pluses and minuses. Just look at what’s happening to peas and potatoes with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and their DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) alert.
So what is 'right' about corn in pet diets?
Corn has many critics, but there are some real positives to this classic pet food ingredient.