Awareness and evaluation of natural pet food products in the United States

Vet Med Today: Timely Topics in Nutrition 1241 H and nutrition-minded consumers have a considerable interest in and demand for natural food products, including natural foods for their pets. Natural pet food is the fastest growing segment of the pet food industry in the United States, compared with the science, grocery, and overall pet specialty segments. Sales of natural pet foods increased from $2.0 billion in 2008 to $3.9 billion in 2012. Interest in natural pet foods and ingredient sourcing was fueled by the 2007 recall of pet food products adulterated with melamine and related derivatives as a result of the inclusion of Chinese-sourced wheat gluten, rice gluten, and corn gluten. Consequently, consumer awareness of pet food safety and the inclusion of specific ingredients in pet foods were heightened, which resulted in increased demand by consumers and pet food manufacturers for traceability of pet food ingredients, specifically with regard to country of origin. The rapid growth in the demand for natural pet foods is also propelled by the unsubstantiated belief of many consumers that diets consisting of meat, whole grains, and fewer by-products offer better nutritional options for their dogs and cats. A preference for recognizable ingredients (eg, fruits and vegetables) listed on the label parallels consumers’ beliefs that these foods are good for the health and well-being of their pets. Understanding what constitutes a natural pet food and how to assess its quality is necessary to enable veterinarians to confidently provide nutritional advice to pet owners. The purpose of the information provided here is to clarify the definition of natural pet foods in the United States and provide guidance for assessing natural pet food products. In addition, qualityand safety-related aspects involved in delivering optimal companion animal nutrition is discussed.