Not only food for human, we also must consider the ingredients and the nutrient of food for pets. Recently, many companies produced various pet foods with different taste and health claims. Many pet owners are also increasingly aware of the importance of looking at the ingredients of their pet food.

Currently, the pet food ingredients market has been observing a rise. A research firm, GMI Research, expected that pet food ingredients market size would reach USD 51.0 billion in 2029.

What's in It?

Whether in dog food and snacks or another animal, pet owners should be aware of what is inside their meal. Usually, pet foods are made out of the carcass from the animals slaughtered for human consumptions. That includes bones, beaks, blood, organs, and other remaining parts. It might also include the leftovers from the human food sector. All of these are cooked through a process called rendering.

There are several categories regarding pet food.

1.      Meat meal

Meat meal includes any animal’s tissues except blood, hair, or stomach, which are rendered. The manufacturers can also add dried solids.

2.      By-products

By-products are the excess of materials that are left over from human consumption. It can include beaks, organs, stomachs, bones, and so on. By-products will have a lower cost to produce while still maintaining the high protein.

3.      Digest

It is usually used in pet food products that contain no meat. By using chemical breakdown process of by-products and clean meat tissues, it can give the flavor of meat to the food.

4.      Meat by-product meal

This pet food uses by-products while adding dried solids.

Pet Food Label

Organic food choices are also available for pet food. There should be a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients in organic pet food. Also, there should not be any use of genetic engineering or other chemical involvement.

There is also a label human grade on pet food. It refers to pet food that is approved for human consumption. However, it is very difficult to meet the standard. Even though some pet food claims to be human grade, most of it is still not edible by humans. It just means that the food is manufactured in a facility certified for human-grade food production.

Manufacturers should provide all necessary information regarding the food product and what is contained in the pet food. That can include the type of food, which animal the food is for, expiry date, ingredients, nutritional facts, and other information.

What to Avoid

Just like human food, pet food also contains food additives and preservatives, such as MSG or propylene glycol. However, some preservatives that pet owners should avoid are nitrate, BHA, and BHT. In addition, it is also better to avoid artificial colorings as they offer no nutrients. Instead, they can trigger disease or allergic reactions.

Meanwhile, natural ingredients can be a better option. This food does not contain preservatives or another chemical that may carry the risk of adverse effects. Without the flavorings, artificial colorings, and synthetic chemicals, there is a lower risk for pets to get obesity.