In October 2020, Petfood Industry’s editors and columnists wrote 14 blogs or feature articles, which covered AAFCO, apples, ownership trends and dilated cardiomyopathy.
An apple a day keeps the vet away…are apples safe for pets?
October 1, 2020 - Greg Aldrich, PhD
Including apples or apple pomace in a pet’s diet could be beneficial to pet health, but more research is needed to claim so confidently.
Rx: More pets plus policies, resources to support owners
October 2, 2020 - Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Pet ownership could be the prescription for what ails humans, especially in these times, but policies and resources are needed to support and boost ownership.
WSAVA pet food recommendations: Useful or useless?
October 7, 2020 - Ryan Yamka
Pet food recommendations from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, last updated in 2013, have significant gaps and need a major overhaul.
Cruciferous vegetables: “Superfoods” in dog and cat diets?
October 9, 2020 - Greg Aldrich, PhD
We take a look at kale and broccoli as health beneficial ingredients in pet foods, as well as cruciferous vegetables in general and their place in human and pet products.
AAFCO holds virtual Annual Meeting: Report on the IDC
October 9, 2020 - David A. Dzanis, DVM, PhD, DACVN
The Ingredient Definitions Committee session at the AAFCO Annual Meeting covered a lot of ground, including a new workshop, the current standing of several definitions, and next steps for future topics.
Fresh pet food update: A segment gaining ground
October 9, 2020 - David Sprinkle
‘Fresh’ has been popular in human food for quite some time now, so it’s no surprise that the concept is gaining ground in pet food as pet owners seek to match their pets' food experiences to their own
Why pet food brands should embrace cats and their owners
October 8, 2020 - Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Having led the way in regarding their pets as full-fledged family members, cat owners are now more likely to spend generously on cat food and other products.
Do pet food drivers differ online vs. brick and mortar?
October 10, 2020 - Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Premium pet food purchasers shopping online consider the product important but are less interested in brand story, packaging appearance and sustainability.
Cute brand ambassador pets never get drunk, Tweet slurs
October 14, 2020 – Tim Wall
The role of both social media and pets intertwines as animals’ own online presences increasingly influence consumers’ views of dog, cat and other pet food brands. In some cases, animals make better brand ambassadors because they are less likely to behave like beasts than people. Plus, cuteness is power in the persuasion game.
Building pet food consumer goodwill and loyalty
October 16, 2020 - Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Consumer trust in and positive impressions of farming, agriculture and grocery have increased during the pandemic. Does pet food generate the same goodwill?
VR tours of pet food facility may provide transparency
October 21, 2020 – Tim Wall
The pet food industry chose the red pill this year. While giants like Purina can create full-on VR experiences, even small pet food start-ups can use free panoramic camera apps to make immersive pet food facility tours.
Update: State of pet ownership and pet food spending
October 22, 2020 - Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
The current picture of pet ownership and pet food spending in the U.S. seems mostly sunny, partly cloudy with a chance of storms on the horizon.
5 tips for pet food innovation, teed up by 2020
October 29, 2020 - Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Pet food innovation can come from anywhere in an organization and should be tied to the mission, with value, testing and sustainability baked in.
DCM and grain-free pet food: September 2020 FDA update
October 30, 2020 - Ryan Yamka
FDA’s recent, very quiet update on its grain-free pet food-DCM investigation showed that, no surprise, it’s a complex issue that can’t be pinned to one cause.
