Substandard Ingredients
Simply put, substandard means not for human consumption. Substandard ingredients are the waste products from human ingredients. Most pet foods use ingredients that are not for human consumption because they are inexpensive, as they are a waste product of human foods.
You can do your own research on the ingredients in your pet's food online. One place to start is www.dogfoodproject.com, which gives advice on identifying the right diet for your dog. Education is the key to understanding pet foods and providing quality ingredients for your pets.
Massive Recall
In spring 2007, pet owners were alarmed by massive recalls of pet food tainted with melamine, a substance used to make plastic that is also used to boost the protein levels of dog food. The recall affected consumer confidence in manufactured pet foods and companies. The upside is that pet food companies are now opening their eyes and finding ways to make better-quality foods to restore consumer confidence.
You Wouldn't Feed It to a Dog
We all know that dogs eat nasty things. Dogs bring home some appetizing critters to munch on and are also known to enjoy kitty crunchies from the litter box. The best part of having a dog in the house is having a four-legged vacuum cleaner to clean under the dining room table. That being said, most people would never purposely feed something to their pet that wasn't fit for humans to eat.
Pet food companies spend a lot of money in advertising to produce a cute commercial showing how much dogs like a new pet food that has vegetables in it. Some are “veterinarian recommended.” Normally, that would make most people feel a product is safe, but it does not guarantee quality food. You have to learn how to read a label and understand what is in the food and where it came from. It's also a good idea to contact the customer service phone number on pet food labels for information.
Dogs are primarily meat eaters. They will act, feel, and look their best if they are fed a diet whose first ingredients are beef, lamb, poultry, or fish. Diets based on grains such as corn will make them feel full but will not provide them with good nutrition.
