News & Newsletters: Page 772

Chinese pet owners import American-made petfood for safety

Amid calls by American pet owners for the US Food and Drug Administration to recall chicken jerky treats from China, Chinese pet owners are importing "made in America" petfood in an effort to prevent their own pets from becoming sick by eating petfoods made in China. A number of US petfood companies currently export petfood to Hong Kong, according to a recent article, which says that petfood manufacturers Innova, Solid Gold, Pinnacle, Canidae/Felidae, Nature’s Variety, Oma’s Pride, Wellness, Castor & Pollux Pet Works, Holistic Select and Best Breed all export to distributors in Hong Kong.

Pet Food Safety

More pet owners call for China chicken jerky dog treat recall

An increasing number of pet owners are speaking out on the Internet, calling for the government to force a recall of chicken jerky dog treats from China that have been reportedly causing illness and even death in some pets that consume the treats, according to Food Safety News. The US Food and Drug Administration tested the treats but has not confirmed a link between the chicken jerky treats from China and the pet illnesses being reported by owners, yet owners and lawmakers continue to call for further investigation and FDA's recall of the product.

Pet Food Processing

GA Pet Food Partners invests in sustainable petfood manufacturing

GA Pet Food Partners, a UK superpremium private label dry petfood manufacturer, recently invested millions in the construction of a new environmental management facility as part of its 10-year sustainability plan to produce petfood using more environmentally friendly and sustainable methods. GA's facility sits on 27 hectacres of land that features water treatment works, three biofilters and the ability to clean and recycle all air and water on site. The company also has an on-site packaging recycling plant that separates paper, cardboard and plastics to reduce landfill waste.

GA Pet Food Partners' recently invested in construction of a new environmental management facility on 27 hectacres of land in the UK.

My Perfect Pet releases lower-calorie grain-free dog food

My Perfect Pet, a frozen fresh petfood company, released a lower-calorie, single protein source food for dogs called Knight’s Blend. Knight’s Blend is grain-free, formulated with fresh lean beef and vegetables like broccoli, green beans, zucchini and spinach, and is 100 percent complete and balanced based on Association of American Feed Control Officials' nutrient profiles to provide nutritious energy for adult dogs, the company says.

Market Trends and Reports

Therapeutic petfood diets aid in managing pet health condititions

New research has led petfood manufacturers to develop therapeutic diets that are created specifically to manage many different medical conditions, such as pet obesity or allergies, says a recent article from veterinarypracticenews.com. Typically discussed when a pet's lifestage changes, from puppy to adult to senior, or when the pet develops a specific medical condition, veterinarians say pet nutrition is now being more regularly incorporated into check-up visits as nutrition becomes increasingly important as a form of preventative pet care.

Iams petfood brand offers new senior cat, dog diets

P&G Pet Care's Iams petfood brand introduced a new line of Senior Plus diets, specifically designed for dogs and cats over age 11. Senior Plus diets are available in Iams' ProActive Health and Premium Protection formulas for cats and small to medium breed dogs over age 11, and ProActive Health for large breed dogs age 9 and older.

Petfood ingredient L-carnitine aids in maintaining pet health

An important petfood ingredient, L-carnitine, may provide many benefits to pets that consume it as part of a regular diet, a recent article says. Dr. Johhny Lopez, who holds a Master's degree in animal science and a PhD in monogastric nutrition, says that L-carnitine aids in transporting fatty acids inside the pet's body to the cell's mitochondria, or "furnace," where they are converted into extra energy for the pet's body to use in breathing, eating, resting, metabolism and activity.

Study finds decline in vet visits among pet owners in recession

A survey of 1,200 dog and cat owners by the Pert Group and Brakke Consulting found veterinarians continue to be key in influencing pet product purchases and are the primary retail channel for items like medications and prescription petfood diets, yet pet owners are visiting the veterinarian less thanks to the recession. The survey, conducted in November 2011, found that 77 percent of respondents reported taking their pet to the veterinarian, down 20 percent from 88 percent in 2007, the first year the survey was conducted.

Purina launches small animal treats in PetSmart stores

Petfood maker Purina recently launched two new lines of food and treats for small animals, available in US PetSmart stores. The new products, Purina Garden Recipe and Purina Small Animals, are specially formulated diets for gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and mice, Purina says, made from ingredients like seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruits.

Online petfood retailers growing popular among American pet owners

With 232.1 million Americans having Internet access at home or at the office, according to Forrester Research, a growing number of online petfood and pet product retailers are popping up in hopes of finding more success among pet owners, according to an article on WSJ.com. Online pet supply retailers like PetFlow.com, MrChewy.com and Wag.com are among those that have emerged in recent years thanks to changes in Internet commerce, online pet retailers say, as well as reduced marketing costs and consumers' desires for convenience.

Petfood Forum Asia draws record attendance in Thailand

On February 16, more than 135 petfood professionals from 15 countries attended Petfood Forum Asia 2012, co-located with agrifeed show Victam Asia, at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. Petfood companies in attendance included Royal Canin, Mars Petcare, Procter & Gamble, Del Monte, Unicharm, Perfect Companion, Nippon Pet Food, Betagro, Total Alimentos and more.

Rush Direct offers new dog treats, bones, herbal supplements

Rush Direct is expanding its product line with new Ultra Chewy bones and treats and new Ferrera Farms Naturals brand herbal supplements for dogs. Supplements in the new Ferrera Farms line, Bee the Best, contain Brazilian Red Propolis, a natural supplement produced by honeybees, using a mix of tree sap, beeswax and natural oils, the company says. The Bee the Best line includes: Hip & Joints, Immunity, Relaxing, and Skin & Coat chewable supplements.

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