Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.Dr. Aldrich is president of Pet Food & Ingredient Technology Inc. He is also the author of Petfood Industry magazine's monthly column, "Ingredient Issues."From the Author - Page 13PreservativesCitric acid suffers from misperceptions and misplaced blameIn petfood, citric acid is a common additive used mostly in the fat preservative (antioxidant) system. Food and nutrition experts consider this ingredient a natural functional compound, which, at its worst, is benign to pet health and wellness. However, increasingly pervasive internet claims have led some pet owners to doubt its safety and utility.VitaminsVitamin A – a balancing actIn an age of extremes and absolutes, vitamin A serves as a potent example of the necessity of balance in diet and nutrition. This is an important vitamin that has a direct effect on vision, the endocrine system in many ways and gene expression modulation.ProteinsProtein from potatoes?The terms potato and protein don't often come up in the same sentence--probably because we think of potatoes solely as a starch source. But in our ever-expanding search for useful ingredients in the petfood industry, potato protein, a concentrated extract from the potato tuber, has turned up in several specialty petfoods in the last couple of years.VitaminsIs vitamin C needed?Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) was discovered in 1928 as the agent in citrus that prevented scurvy. The structure of what was then called hexuronic acid was identified by Haworth in 1933, and a process for its synthesis was described by Reichstein in that same year.VitaminsVitamin D -- for pets, sunlight isn't enoughWe read a great deal about vitamin D in the popular press these days. Beyond the age-old deficiency diseases, it is now reported that supplemental vitamin D in people has an influence on a wide range of conditions including cognitive function, osteoporosis, fatigue, diabetes, cancer and more.Fibers and LegumesPeas in petfoodAs petfood companies and pet owners continue to explore a broader range of ingredient options, the lowly pea (Pisum sativum) has been gaining in popularity. Not to be confused with the fresh or succulent green pea, the type that is being used in an ever widening array of applications is dried peas.Fibers and LegumesPulses: new ingredients for petfoods?In the search for new, high quality, raw material sources with consumer appeal and a solid nutritional pedigree, pulses are one class of ingredient that the petfood industry has all but completely overlooked. Is that because of limited availability, poor acceptability by the pet, misperceptions about acceptable ingredients for pets or some other intrinsic nutritional or health issue?NutritionCall to action 20105 small steps would streamline information on petfood ingredients to help communicate with pet ownersVitaminsThe 'catch me if you can' B vitaminA recent recall regarding cat food suspected of being low in thiamine (vitamin B1) brings to light something that the regulatory agencies, ingredient suppliers and food industry (including petfood) have taken for granted for years-that all issues regarding vitamin losses from harvest to consumption have been conclusively modeled and addressed. Not so.Pet Food IngredientsReaching for the extreme edgeStrange, new, exotic ingredients are showing up in petfoods. Sure, new ingredients have been migrating into petfood for years.MineralsDietary phosphorus sourcesPhosphorus is an absolutely critical dietary element. Metabolically, it is involved in the structural composition of bone, is a vital part of genetic messaging in phosphodiester linkages of DNA and RNA nucleotides, is involved with transport of energy through high-energy phosphate bonds (ATP), plays a role in systemic acid-base balance and is involved in fat and protein utilization via phospholipids and phosphoproteins.PreservativesMold inhibitor of choicePreventing the appearance of mold in foods is a constant battle, and petfoods are no exception. Everyone has experienced the gray-green mold on bread or splotches on cheese; with petfoods, many have had an encounter with "fuzzy" biscuits or green kibbles.Previous PagePage 13 of 18Next Page