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Myth Busting

TRUTH : CORN IS AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF MANY NUTRIENTS.

Fillers are ingredients with little or no nutritional value. Corn provides many different kinds of nutrients. Corn contains antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene, which support a healthy immune system. Corn gluten meal is an excellent source of protein for pets and also contains amino acids that complement animal protein sources. Grains, like corn, are part of a balanced diet.

TRUTH : BY-PRODUCTS ARE EXCELLENT SOURCES OF MANY NUTRIENTS IN PET FOODS.

By-products are any ingredient that is produced or left over when another product or ingredient is made. In human food, by-products include broth, gravy, whey and lactose. In pet foods, by-products can actually complement muscle meat nutrient profiles. Abundant in vitamins and calcium & other minerals, by-products are also excellent sources of the protein and amino acids that promote health.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) requires that all by-products in pet food

come from clean animal parts other than meat, such as liver, kidney and other organs. Purina purchases from USDA-inspected plants with stringent criteria for nutrient content, processing and quality.

Adopters see you as a trusted resource for all things pet—and that includes nutrition. There’s a lot of information out there and it can be difficult to know what’s accurate. Here are a couple common myths about pet food and ingredients.

Continued

PET NUTRITION MYTHS BUSTED

MYTH : CORN IS A POORLY DIGESTED FILLER THAT CAUSES ALLERGIES.

MYTH : BY-PRODUCTS ARE POOR-QUALITY INGREDIENTS.

poultry liver

poultry heart

poultry gizzards

2

Myth Busting

TRUTH : “NATURAL” AND “ORGANIC” DO NOT MEAN THE SAME THING.

Natural • AAFCO defines and regulates the term “natural” for pet food and animal feed. “Natural” is defined as a feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined resources, not having been produced by or subject to chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing processes.

However, for complete and balanced foods, chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients are acceptable. In fact, some vitamins are only available in synthetic forms. While they don’t fit the strict definition of “natural,” they are important to nutrition.

Organic • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines and regulates the term “organic” for human food, and some pet food manufacturers apply these rules to pet food. The term refers to the way a crop or animal is grown or raised and handled. Organic crops must be grown on land that has been free from pesticides for three years. Organic livestock is fed organic feed, is not given antibiotics or hormones and has access to the outdoors.

But natural and organic foods are not necessarily healthier than conventional foods. The USDA makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. Not all foods labeled organic contain only organic ingredients. There are three levels of organic foods:

1 100% Organic

2 Organic, which indicates a product is made with 95% organic ingredients

3 Made with organic, which indicates anywhere from 70-95% of ingredients used are organic

MYTH : “NATURAL” AND “ORGANIC” ARE THE SAME IN PET FOOD.

We hope these facts are helpful in your conversations with adopters so they can feel empowered to make decisions that will continue to keep their pets happy and healthy.