Oh dear, Consumer Reports has done it again by weighing in on the value of commercial dog food. While they are correct in saying that “premium” has no legal definition in terms of nutritional quality,” they are sadly incorrect in saying that Walmart’s brand, Ol’ Roy, at 34 cents a pound is the best deal. I agree in saying that a “premium” dog food may not be better than one not labeled as such, but I disagree that Ol’ Roy is a good deal. A good deal for your wallet, but not for your dog’s health and longevity.
Let’s consider Ol’ Roy’s top ingredient list: Ground yellow corn, soybean meal, ground whole wheat, corn syrup, poultry fat, Meat and bone meal (Animal Fat Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid), Chicken by-product Meal, Rice, Animal Digest. I don’t want to fail to mention that this dog food has been recalled due to salmonella contamination AND uses BHA as a preservative, which is a toxic preservative and has been linked to cancer…
Corn- the first ingredient, and therefore the highest amount in the food. Dogs cannot efficiently digest carbohydrates. Soybean meal- a high allergen offender. Wheat- again, dogs cannot digest carbs efficiently. Corn syrup- REALLY? Poultry fat- ok, I’m good with this particular ingredient. Meat and bone meal- which they fail to mention which animal it is derived from, which is not a good sign. When the source is not identified you can assume it is a 4D meat (dead, dying, diseased, disabled). Yikes! Obviously 4D meat is not fit for human consumption and therefore makes a great dog food, right? Chicken by-product meal- this is pretty much everything that is left over after the meat has been used. Rice- yet another carbohydrate filler. And to top it all off, here is the sales pitch:
Wow, those are some claims! Which “high quality ingredients” are they referring to? I think I missed those… “Complete Nutrition?” How do you arrive at that statement? You’ve got to love AAFCO for coming up with a completely biased “complete nutrition” standard. That is about the equivalent of McDonalds telling me that their quarter pounder super-sized meal is specially formulated to be complete nutrition.
So, Consumer Reports, while I depend on your unbiased reviews when I buy a new vehicle or household appliance, maybe dog food isn’t your forte. As an animal nutritionist, I have no business reviewing the safety standards and handling capacity at 100mph in Ferrari’s newest 2011 release. But what I can tell you is that Ol’ Roy is NOT just as good or as good of a value as the higher end dog foods on the market. I can’t imagine buying a Ferrari at CarMax, so maybe I shouldn’t be buying my dog food at Walmart or other big box store!
Heather is the lead nutritionist at Pampered Pooch and Pony, a company dedicated to consumer education. She is a nutrition consultant to help you, as the consumer, understand what to feed your dog and why. Although nutritionists will try to convince you that dog nutrition is complicated and best left to the professionals, Heather encourages her clients to learn and understand and demystifies the concept that nutrition is complicated, breaking it down into understandable parts of the whole.
Pampered Pooch and Pony Equine and Canine Consultingemphasizes client education over all else. It is our goal to have you understand the reason for our recommendations, achieving the best health for your animals, as well as ensuring that our clients become educated consumers to make good choices when purchasing animal feed and supplements. Since we are a private, independently owned company, we are not limited in our recommendations and suggestions by name brands and preferred dealers. We are not compensated by any company, instead we work for you! Your pet’s best health is our top priority.
References:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/august/money/pet-costs/dont-pay-a-premium-for-premium-pet-food/index.htm
July 30, 2011
poochpony
