In Australia we recently lost a great dog biscuit product and some new ones have (fortunately say all of us) came on to the market. I read the ingredients list on one new product and feel it important to remind owners (buyers) just to double check the ingredient list and place of manufacture.
I choose to buy product made in my country as we have strict quarantine laws and some products may need extra treatment before being allowed to be sold here. That is generally good, except there was the case of fatal toxicity caused by the treatment in a well known cat product . This is very unusual, but I am not taking the chance.
We don’t have a lot of laws governing what or the source of the ingredients but our culture usually avoids substituting non-food items to boost analysis, not all countries do.
My major concern with pet food production, and this extends internationally, is the use of chemicals to salvage scrap from the human food chain. For instance, chemicals are used to strip the remnant scrags of meat from bone, and that product goes directly to the pet food industry. Rendering plants mince whole animals to produce ingredients that go to the pet food industry, plastic tags, horns, wool, internal organs, the lot. This is how our culture works, I don’t find the idea acceptable and use dog food kibble only as treats not the main diet.
Australia is a long way from many pet food manufacturers, so products have to travel, that’s food miles which people aware of environmental issues will appreciate is not the best. This also contributes to the shelf life we can enjoy because we can buy the locally made product earlier in it’s life cycle.
Australia produces a lot of great food ingredients.
Buying Australian made and owned gives us the chance to communicate effective with manufacturers, contribute to employing Australians and help the Australian economy.
However, not all Australian product is good, so read the ingredients list.
Ingredients are listed in the order of quantity used.
A product whose list reads: Wheat flour, sugar, canola oil, flavours, golden syrup, bicarbonate soda, parsley, salt, milk powder, calcium may not have high amounts of sugar but why is there sugar and golden syrup? And the use of bicarb and salt elevates sodium, and that is not great in a balanced diet either. Why more flavour as there is already parsley, milk powder and two forms of refined sugar in the product? I would image the dogs find this yummy, but boiled lollies and ice cream are yummy and not great for dental and overall health either.
There is currently no overriding law to protect the quality and labelling of pet food in Australia, see https://www.choice.com.au/outdoor/pets/products/articles/pet-food-regulation
To understand more about pet food labelling in Australia see https://pfiaa.com.au/pet-food-labelling-keeping-up-the-standard/
Buyer beware! You are the one responsible for your dog’s well being and health, not the manufacturers.
