It’s no secret that pets have become members of the family, and it is certainly reflected in the spending of pet parents. The American Pet Products Association reports that spending topped $147 billion in the United States, and forecasts that number to exceed $150 billion in 2024, with roughly 44% of that spend in the food and treat category. As pet parents become more educated on the quality and ingredients of the food they are feeding their four-legged loved ones, many are turning to premium brands to ensure a healthy diet.
Pure Ingredients in Pet Food Formulations Increase Nutritional Value, Decrease Trace Metals
Today, it is more common than ever to hear pet parents talk of reading the labels when making decisions about which food to buy. They are interested in the key source of protein, grains and other ingredients that top the list on the back of the bag. But there is more to the story than just the ingredients – and that is the purity of the ingredients in the formulation.
Pet parents are increasingly interested in diets that are designed specifically for their pet’s breed, age and overall health. These formulations must contain accurate supplementation of key macronutrients such as calcium and phosphorus, which are good for bones and teeth and micronutrients such as iron, which is good for all cells and bodily functions. Yet too much of any of these nutrients can be quite dangerous to a pet’s health, so the purity of all ingredients in the pet food formulation must be known and consistent. Purity is also important to avoid any toxic metals including mercury, lead, cadmium, selenium, and arsenic.
At Pet Food Solutions, we have been studying these nutrients for many years, as well as the occurrence of trace metals in standard chicken fat and in Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat. Our goal was to quantify the difference in these important areas and determine how a shift to Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat in pet food formulation could help deliver on a brand’s promise of pure, consistent, reliable nutrition.
What we have found throughout the course of our five years of testing:
- There are undetectable levels of toxic metals in finished product using Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat. This can reduce the risk of many chronic illnesses and disorders.
- Gold Shield® Refined Chicken fat removes the variability in levels and ratios of calcium and phosphorus present in standard chicken fat. Proper levels of each can then be supplemented in the appropriate ratios, are critical as this reduces the risk of kidney disease and bladder stones.
- Iron levels are kept low with Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat versus dangerous levels which may be present in standard chicken fat. High iron levels can cause major damage to a pet’s liver, as well as the gastrointestinal, metabolic, nervous, and cardiovascular systems.
Our most recent white paper contains more data and information on these trace metals, as well as additional considerations for your pet food formulation.
The Chicken Fat You Choose Impacts Your Pet Food’s Government Regulatory Compliance
Government regulators are watching more closely than ever, so it is important that you are ready and feel confident in your ability to comply with established nutritional guidelines for your pet food. Studies have shown that over half of dry pet food is not compliant, and furthermore, that essential nutrients and trace nutrients are above recommended levels. Finally, high concentrations of trace metals have been found in some pet foods. This poses a potential danger to pets and brand integrity.
The goal of the pet food manufacturers we work with is to provide safe and nutritious food for pets. They work hard to achieve this goal and take their responsibility seriously. Gold Shield Refined Chicken Fat is a powerful new “tool in their toolbelt” to make this goal a reality.
Choosing Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat will help you establish a greater level of health and safety for the pets who enjoy your pet food and will support your ability to meet government regulations. Scrutiny of pet food composition by government agencies and independent researchers is intense and is expected to increase in the future. Our Gold Shield Refined Chicken Fat is the best ingredient of this type available and will stand up to the greatest scrutiny
