News & Newsletters: Page 760

Recent aflatoxin petfood recalls may increase safety regulations

A series of recent recalls in the US for high aflatoxin levels in petfood is increasing the pressure to tighten government food safety rules in proposals that are currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a report from Reuters. The act, signed into law this year, focuses on preventing petfood contamination, starting with petfood ingredients, rather than just responding to contamination.

Free 'Pets and Vets' report reviews 2011 retail pet sector

The Wall Street Transcript published a free report, "Pets and Vets," offering a review of the 2011 retail pet sector and an analysis of successful pet retailers like PetSmart. This pet market report contains expert industry commentary and in-depth interviews with public company CEOs, equity analysts and money managers about petfood trends, growth in pet retail, veterinary care and more.

Petfood sales expected to remain strong, analyst says

Pet product retail is expected to maintain its sales volumes during this time of slow economic growth, with petfood and pet treats resilient to trade-downs because of the pet owner's attachment to their animal companions, Daniel Hofkin, an analyst at William Blair & Company LLC, told TWST.com. “People tend to spoil and dote on their pets. They will sometimes sacrifice their own eating or spending, but especially among older families or empty nesters, pets are often considered children.

FDA forms Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health created the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance to develop training courses and materials on preventing contamination for both human and animal food, including petfood, during production. The materials to be developed by the alliance will help industry members, particularly small- and medium-size manufacturers, comply with new preventive control rules of the FSMA.

D.D. Williamson launches Expert Answers for petfood manufacturers

D.D. Williamson launched a new online series to help food scientists, petfood manufacturers, chemists, professors, managers and others in the food and beverage industry to grow their business and expand into new markets. The Expert Answers series answers questions and provides relevant regulatory and market information via video interviews, articles and transcripts from food and beverage industry experts both inside and outside DDW.

New petcast offers petfood advice, money saving tips for pet owners

An on-demand petcast, Radio Beastro, was recently launched on WebTalkRadio.net, to provide pet owners with information and ways to save money. The broadcasts feature pet expert guests and cover topics ranging from smart petfood product choices to winter preparation tips to environmental safety.

Trouw Nutrition donates to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation

Ingredient supplier Trouw Nutrition is donating up to US$10,000 to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, an organization that saves dogs and cats that have run out of time at public shelters. The donations are being made in the name of some of Trouw's petfood manufacturing clients. The company is also sending a gift bag of goodies to ARF for the pets to enjoy.

Market Trends and Reports

Halo petfood, Freekibble.com donate meals to homeless dogs, cats

Halo, the petfood company co-owned by Ellen Degeneres, is teaming up with Freekibble.com for the Holiday Koast-to-Koast Kibble Drop to provide 400,000 nutritious petfood meals to homeless dogs and cats for the holidays. Two trucks are delivering the company's petfood to more than 40 shelters and rescue centers across the US.

Petfood manufacturer Spring Naturals awarded for dog food

Petfood manufacturer Spring Naturals was named the 2011 winner in the dog food category of the Pet Business' Industry Recognition Award. Now in its 10th year, the awards program highlights the specialty pet industry's most innovative and functional products across a variety of pet care categories.

European Pet Food Industry Federation petfood labeling code approved

The European Pet Food Industry Federation, FEDIAF, welcomed validation of the new Code of Good Labeling Practice for Pet Food by the European Commission. Regulation 767/2009 on the Marketing and Use of Feed modernizes the relevant rules for petfood manufacturing and promotes the development of EU Codes of Good Labeling Practice as tools for co-regulation.

Market Trends and Reports

Mars Petcare to expand petfood production plant in South Carolina, USA

Petfod manufacturer Mars Petcare is increasing its pet treat production with a US$128.6 million expansion at its Columbia, South Carolina, USA, facility, which will create about 277 jobs over the next five years, The State reported. The 290,000-square-foot expansion will more than triple the plant's payroll at Mars, according to the report.

Novelli Group builds new petfood production plant in Italy

The Novelli Group of Italy is building a new petfood production plant with the help of consulting group Tebodin CCE. The new plant will produce 15 tons of dog and cat food per hour for the Italian and international petfood markets.

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