News & Newsletters: Page 776

Texas A&M to host petfood extrusion short course

A Practical Short Course on Feeds and PetFood Extrusion will be presented January 29 through February 3, 2012, at Texas A&M University by staff, petfood industry representatives and consultants. The program will cover designing new feed mills and selecting conveying, drying, grinding, conditioning and feed mixing equipment.

NASC launches raw material supplier quality assurance program

National Animal Supplement Council initiated a third-party quality assurance program specifically for raw material suppliers and contract manufacturers. As an extension of the organization’s current NASC Quality Seal Program for finished products in the animal health supplement industry, raw material suppliers and contract manufacturers can now apply for a NASC Quality Supply Chain Partner Seal.

Chinese petfood manufacturers look to expand in growing market

As urbanization and changing lifestyles make more Chinese citizens into pet owners, China's petfood industry is expanding to meet the need for a wider-variety of petfood and pet product offerings. Pet owners in China now have a variety of petfood brands from which to choose, making quality and branding even more important for petfood companies that want to make their products stand out in this growing marketplace.

Del Monte reports net sales of US$776.2 for first-quarter fiscal 2012

Del Monte Foods reported net sales of US$776.2 for the three months for fiscal 2012 ended July 31, a 3.5% decrease from US$804.6 million in the first quarter fiscal 2011. Unit volume declines in both pet products and consumer products drove the decrease, but were partially offset by new product volume growth in pet and the impact of pricing actions, according to the company.

Market Trends and Reports

Ark Naturals donates natural pet products for the Emmy Awards

Natural pet product supplier Ark Naturals will participate in the WOW Creations Celebrity Gifting Lounge taking place in honor of the Emmy Awards on September 13, 2011, in Beverly Hills, California, USA. At the Emmy Gifting Lounge, Ark Naturals will give away a gift bag of products aimed at solving familiar pet issues and bringing celebrities closer to their pets.

Exopack invests US$13 million in new petfood packaging equipment

Petfood packaging manufacturer Exopack invested US$13 million in new manufacturing equipment and technologies for its Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA and Tomah, Wisconsin, USA, manufacturing facilities to expand current product offerings. At the Spartanburg facility, a Starlinger woven poly propylene converting cell will be installed to expand production of Rave composite bags.

AFIA comments on Commodity Futures Trading Commission proposal

The American Feed Industry Association submitted supplemental comments on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding conditional spot-month position limits for commodity derivatives. In its comments, AFIA said that when input prices become distorted and do not accurately reflect supply and demand conditions, the results are felt throughout the entire supply chain, from producers to consumers.

Pedigree, Walmart partner in petfood packaging QR code initiative

The Pedigree petfood brand is teaming up with Walmart in a technology-driven initiative to help feed homeless dogs as part of "Pets Love Walmart" month in September. Throughout the month of September, dog lovers can use their smartphone to scan the QR code on any Pedigree package sold at Walmart.

FDA may get US$50 million for food safety from US Senate

The US Food and Drug Administration may receive additional funding when the 2012 fiscal year starts October 1, 2011, as the Senate Appropriations Committee considers a bill that sets the organization's spending limit, according to reports. The report says the Senate's version of the budget bill would allocate approximately US$350 million more than the appropriations bill passed in the House in June.

AFIA, FEFANA members discuss feed regulations

Marking the two-year anniversary of the International Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program, representatives from the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures, FEFANA, met with members of the American Feed Industry Association in Arlington, Virginia, USA, to discuss new feed regulation developments. FEFANA's Feed Additives and Premixtures Quality System, FAMI-QS, and AFIA's International Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program are covered by the same rules and scope under FEFANA's Guide to Good Practice.

Market Trends and Reports

Greenies works to promote pet oral health

The Greenies Brand, makers of pet dental treats, is working to educate pet owners on the importance of providing daily preventative oral care to their pet. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, periodontal disease affects three-fourths of dogs and cats over age three, and is often a result of the pet owner's failure to provide daily oral care.

Study finds maize gluten feed may be beneficial dog food ingredient

A Brazilian scientist conducted a study using two different techniques to measure digestibility and metabolizable energy of maize gluten feed as an ingredient in petfood for dogs. MGF, a co-product of wet milling of maize, is composed of the structures left after most starch, gluten and germ has been extracted from the grain.

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