Top Marketing Scams

Many pet owners are swayed to buy pet food that is advertised to be healthy when in reality it is just the opposite. The recent 2007 pet food recall highlighted the importance of looking beyond the glitter. We want you to know what to look for when buying pet foods as manufacturers do not have to prove their quality or guarantee their products formula since there is no true authority in the pet food industry.

The Top 6 marketing gimmicks to look for:

1. Look beyond catchy terms on pet food bags like natural, organic, healthy, or symptom related (remember there is no true authority in the pet food industry see below).
   
   
2. Be aware of the sappy commercials by Mega-Giant Pet Companies trying to draw you in by stating they will donate to a specific charity. Their charity might be legit but the food isn't.... (remember just like other big business their goal is stock profits not nutrition).
   
   
3. Unhealthy ingredients can be legally defined on the label in misleading words such as "meat by-products". ( This means things like hooves, beaks and feathers!)
   
   
4. Beware of "lite" diets which can actually cause weight gain in the long term. Why wouldn't you just feed nutritional food in smaller portions to your pet? (Another trick to buy an more expensive bag of food.)
   
   
5. Symptom-specific diets are simply a profitable marketing tool (like dogs with allergies, arthritis or overweight).
   
   
6. Food that addresses one stage over another. This is only the repackaging of similiar formulas with the idea the average household member will purchase more than one bag of pet food (are you getting the idea).

Manufacturers don't have to prove their quality or guarantee their formula since there is no true authority in the pet food industry. According to the AAFCO (American Association Of Feed Control Officers) 2004 handbook the following items are considered fine to be put in pet food; thrown-out restaurant tallow, food wastes, hydrolzed hair, shoe leather, dried animal wastes, and unborn calf carcasses.

Why would the AAFCO allow this to happen? Could it be a result of big companies, money and politics? It's time for the consumer to stop being duped by these pet food manufacturers who put stock profits ahead of the welfare of your pet.