Unlike the USA and other countries, Canadian pet foods are not required to have a statement of nutritional adequacy. Statements such as “nutritionally complete and balanced for all life stages” or “intended for supplemental or intermittent feeding only” help buyers differentiate a balanced food from one requiring additions to meet nutritional requirements. To make things even more confusing, some companies make unsubstantiated claims about their foods. Often, there is little or no information offered from the manufacturers as to what is really in the frozen patties or grinds. Consumers can easily draw incorrect inferences about the products they choose. Sadly, this situation is not limited to Canada - it is happening worldwide.
I'm Dr. Karen Becker, a proactive, integrative veterinarian who focuses on creating pet wellness and promoting longevity. I know the value of feeding thoughtfully designed fresh-food diets to our pets, and I am very concerned about the truthful labeling of fresh, raw pet foods in Canada and the world. Owners need to know if the products they choose are truly nutritionally complete, or, if not, what nutrients do the foods actually contain. It only seems fair and honest, right?
This really goes beyond being fair and honest; long term feeding of nutritionally incomplete foods can cause harm to the dogs we love! Pet owners need to know if the products are nutritionally complete, or, if not, they deserve to know what needs to be added to make it so.
Given that most pet owners who seek fresh-food diets do so for their best friend’s health, it can be heartbreaking to find out that the chosen food was deficient. This is happening across Canada, and I believe providing detailed nutritional information, obtained through independent testing, will allow dog owners to make better-informed decisions. It is our right to know what is in the foods we feed actually meet our pets' nutritional needs.
That’s why I started this project -- I want to provide nutrient testing on popular Canadian raw pet foods. Results will be compared to global standards, including ancestral estimates. The public presentation of the data will be objective, with no recommendations, criticisms, reviews, or opinions given. The unbiased data will give raw-feeders world wide a greater understanding of commercial raw products in general, and guide Canadians in making better purchasing decisions. The ultimate goal of this project is to create and grow a free, public, international database for raw-feeders, nutrition-junkies, and vets everywhere to use as a resource.
Show your support by sharing the campaign with your friends and family on social media, and wherever pet lovers connect. Together we can accomplish the goal of helping our pets live longer, healthier lives.