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 9Pet Food IngredientsIs resistant starch a future fiber in petfoods?There is enough evidence in the human and animal nutrition research literature to suggest that resistant starch may have a wide array of health benefits. So, is resistant starch a “future fiber” for the next generation of petfoods?NutritionNews from the JAM companion animal programAt the recent Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science and American Dairy Science Association and Canadian Society of Animal Science there were 27 topical reviews and original research presentations focused specifically on companion animals out of the hundreds of abstracts in the program.NutritionNews from the AAVN Clinical Nutrition and Research SymposiumThe 14th Annual American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition and Research Symposium was held in Nashville, Tennessee on June 4, 2014 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The symposium coincided with the American College of Veterinary and Internal Medicine Forum. This year the symposium attracted 155 professionals from around the globe. The attendees were treated to more than 30 presentations of original research, reviews and poster presentations on topics ranging from clinical care and diagnostic techniques to general animal nutrition and food product evaluations.Pet Food IngredientsPropylene glycol: When, where and how should it be usedConsumers and the media say they want petfoods that are fresh, natural, inexpensive, perfectly formed and appealing to the eye, taste great, and are constantly available to the market regardless of season or supply. The retailers and distributors want petfoods that will last on the shelf for years, appeal to consumers, are encased in beautiful packaging and don’t degrade or get buggy.NutritionVenison, rabbit and buffalo: A throwback to our pets’ primitive pastFor the past decade there has been an increasing number of "novel protein ingredient" foods marketed in the petfood industry. Originally these were merchandised in the veterinary trade for elimination diets intended as nutritional support for animals with recalcitrant food hypersensitivities.Pet Food IngredientsCopper sulfate: A standard of reference for copper in petfoodCopper sulfate is a very common and effective copper source used in petfoods. There have been some recurrent concerns expressed to customer service hotlines and on some enthusiast web sites that copper sulfate is "toxic" and that it "attacks the heart, liver and kidneys" and that it is "moderately poisonous."ProductionOnline Extra! USA Poultry Meal: Quality Issues and Concerns in PetfoodsGreg Aldrich, PhD, lays out the case for USA poultry meal in petfoodsNutritionOnline Extra! More from Salt: is there really anything wrong with it?Exclusively on the web - take a look at Dr. Aldrich's entire Ingredient Issues column from the January 2008 issue of Petfood IndustryPet Food IngredientsCoconut oil: Does it belong in commercial petfoods?Coconut oil has become fashionable with a near cult-like following in the human dietary health and supplements aisle. Although it was once cast aside as an ingredient that contributed to cardiovascular health issues, now it is being touted as a cure for everything from obesity to acne.NutritionGrapes and raisins: Are they really toxic?Grape products get a great deal of press these days in the human food and supplement market. They are touted as beneficial for a wide array of functions from simple fruit and fiber to antioxidants that have health benefits and near-medicinal value.Pet Food IngredientsFillers: Are they incorrectly vilified?Whether product promotion or informational website, the term "filler" is a popular topic of scorn. Many petfood packages make bold statements that their recipe "contains no fillers," has "no added fillers," or never uses "cheap fillers."NutritionGlycemic index: Elegant technique in search of a petfood product claimThe concept of a product possessing a "low glycemic index" is emerging as a new parameter for evaluating petfoods. The index is a carryover from the human foods industry, where it is used as a method to help diabetic individuals make ingredient and meal choices in their effort to constantly monitor and control blood glucose levels.Previous PagePage 9 of 18Next Page