7 ms·

I was following that case closely back in 2007 because of my pet (thankfully not affected). An astonishing thing I learned was that practically every brand of c

I was following that case closely back in 2007 because of my pet (thankfully not affected). An astonishing thing I learned was that practically every brand of cat food and dog food in North America is/was manufactured by a single company called Menu Foods in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. The pet food "brands" don't have their own factories. They all contract it out to the same place. A few journalists remarked on this secret fact that came out because of the recall. We agonize over which brand is healthier for our cats and dogs, but it's all an illusion. The majority of US and Canadian pet food is made at one factory with the same basic animal ingredients, same quality control, same employees, and the same machines. Maybe they adjust the proportions slightly and tweak the flavors. Then they slap on different labels like Purina, Iams, Royal Canin, whatever. It's saddening to learn that we really don't have as much choice as we think. I'm much more skeptical and questioning than the average person, and yet I assumed that the pet food's "brand name" somehow made a difference.

bluedino 10y ago
>> The majority of US and Canadian pet food is made at one factory This is true if you're talking about wet pet food - there are other makers of wet pet food and dry pet food (which is over half the market) is made by other companies. Mars/Nestle (the same people who make candy...)
spoofball 10y ago
the majority of pet food is meat not fit for human consumption. [1] if you aren't feeding your pet meat that you eat, it's living on extreme crap. [1]: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/unfit-for-humans-legal-for-dog-food/ http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/unfi...
- sukilot 10y ago
  People like fancy food. That doesn't make non-fancy food extreme crap.
  - thinkloop 10y ago
    "not fit for human consumption" is not a synonym for "unfancy". It describes the processes involved to arrive at the final food. Filet mignon can be unfit for human consumption, while pigs' feet can be processed correctly and be fit for consumption.
    - thinkloop 10y ago
      Check this out: http://www.alive.com/health/fit-for-human-consumption/ http://www.alive.com/health/fit-for-human-consumption/ Animals that are sick or unhealthy are separated from the herd and slaughtered independently, then sold for pet food and livestock feed. This was partly what fostered the mad cow issue. There is higher risk for illness with non-human grade food. If you don't want higher risk for your pet than child, you shouldn't feed the off-the-shelf non-human grade food.
      - lsc 10y ago
        > if you care about your pet like you do your child, you shouldn't feed the off-the-shelf non-human grade food. This is... an interesting generational thing, I think. To most older people, the idea of caring as much for your pet as you would for a child seems viscerally wrong. They even economize on pet healthcare. but... among those younger than me, your view, as far as I can tell, seems to be the norm. The very idea that you might be unwilling to go bankrupt paying for medical care for your pets seems abhorrent.
        thinkloop 10y ago
        Great point, I have definitely noticed this in my own family. The elders are not only against "wasting" money above the minimum required for sustenance, but they get openly and visibly angry about it when someone else does. For some reason, this particular issue crosses over from "well I wouldn't do it, but to each his own", to seeing it as a fundamentally immoral act. It surprised me in the beginning. Personally I can't understand the logic. Who cares what species something is, it's just a question of level of consciousness. A dog is pretty much a 2 yr old child. Why have no concern for such a consciousness, whether it's an animal, android, human, or whatever.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- refurb 10y ago
  My dog will eat other animal feces. His standards for "food" are pretty low.
  - thinkloop 10y ago
    Lulz Apparently this trait evolved as a way to keep the nest clean and safe during nursing of pups.
  - spoofball 10y ago
    No one is talking about standards. I'm talking about food that might make your dog sick or malnourished. But to each his own.
projektfu 10y ago
I am a veterinarian with an interest in nutrition. While it is true that the vast majority of the brands are virtual brands who have another manufacturer making their food, it is not true for the three brands you have mentioned whose owners sell most of the food sold. Purina (Nestle), Iams (Mars) and Royal Canin (Mars) manufacture their own food, as does Hill's (Colgate-Palmolive) and Pedigree (Mars). Mars, Nestle and Colgate-Palmolive represent over 80% of the market share in pet food. [1] [1] http://www.slideshare.net/Euromonitor/state-of-the-pet-care-market-in-2015 http://www.slideshare.net/Euromonitor/state-of-the-pet-care-...
- DrScump 10y ago
  <Purina (Nestle), Iams (Mars) and Royal Canin (Mars) manufacture their own food> One roster: http://aplusflintriverranch.com/define-menufoods-petfoodrecall.php http://aplusflintriverranch.com/define-menufoods-petfoodreca...
  - projektfu 10y ago
    Ok, I was unaware of these SKUs. I will have to ask if they learned their lesson.
smsm42 10y ago
> We agonize over which brand is healthier for our cats and dogs, but it's all an illusion. The fact that one factory makes the food doesn't mean brands are illusion. One factory can make different kinds of food. True, machines and employees are the same, but that does not mean food content is the same - in fact, different companies may very well order very different mixes to be packed on the same equipment. In fact, the same factory produced Chevrolet Prizm and Toyota Tacoma - but they are hardly the same car.
andyjdavis 10y ago
Out curiosity, is (relatively) unprocessed meat for pets available in supermarkets in north america? In Australia you can buy packets of kangaroo meat for consumption by pets as kangaroos are essentially pests in many areas. This results in a large supply of meat that has limited commercial value so most supermarkets will stock frozen packets of what is (I believe) 100% kangaroo mince for people to feed to their pets. Curious if there is an equivalent option elsewhere.
- err4nt 10y ago
  This is the most unique and fun thing Ive seen shared on HN in a while! It makes a ton of sense. I can speak for all of North America, but nothing like that is available in Ontario (the most populous province in Canada). We have dry food and canned meat for dogs and cats, and a new thing showing up in grocery stores in Canada, and walmarts in the US are refrigerated, 'fresh' meat pellets. They are expensive, and spoil quicker than my cat can eat it. I would jump at the chance to have 100% pure shredded meat for my pets. I bet there are lots of happy dogs and cats in AU that dont even know how good they have it :)
geon 10y ago
> We agonize over which brand is healthier for our cats and dogs, but it's all an illusion. Does manufacturing the product at the same location imply that the content is the same?

bluedino 10y ago

>> The majority of US and Canadian pet food is made at one factory This is true if you're talking about wet pet food - there are other makers of wet pet food and dry pet food (which is over half the market) is made by other companies. Mars/Nestle (the same people who make candy...)

spoofball 10y ago

the majority of pet food is meat not fit for human consumption. [1] if you aren't feeding your pet meat that you eat, it's living on extreme crap. [1]: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/unfit-for-humans-legal-for-dog-food/ http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/unfi...

sukilot 10y ago
People like fancy food. That doesn't make non-fancy food extreme crap.
- thinkloop 10y ago
  "not fit for human consumption" is not a synonym for "unfancy". It describes the processes involved to arrive at the final food. Filet mignon can be unfit for human consumption, while pigs' feet can be processed correctly and be fit for consumption.
  - thinkloop 10y ago
    Check this out: http://www.alive.com/health/fit-for-human-consumption/ http://www.alive.com/health/fit-for-human-consumption/ Animals that are sick or unhealthy are separated from the herd and slaughtered independently, then sold for pet food and livestock feed. This was partly what fostered the mad cow issue. There is higher risk for illness with non-human grade food. If you don't want higher risk for your pet than child, you shouldn't feed the off-the-shelf non-human grade food.
    - lsc 10y ago
      > if you care about your pet like you do your child, you shouldn't feed the off-the-shelf non-human grade food. This is... an interesting generational thing, I think. To most older people, the idea of caring as much for your pet as you would for a child seems viscerally wrong. They even economize on pet healthcare. but... among those younger than me, your view, as far as I can tell, seems to be the norm. The very idea that you might be unwilling to go bankrupt paying for medical care for your pets seems abhorrent.
      - thinkloop 10y ago
        Great point, I have definitely noticed this in my own family. The elders are not only against "wasting" money above the minimum required for sustenance, but they get openly and visibly angry about it when someone else does. For some reason, this particular issue crosses over from "well I wouldn't do it, but to each his own", to seeing it as a fundamentally immoral act. It surprised me in the beginning. Personally I can't understand the logic. Who cares what species something is, it's just a question of level of consciousness. A dog is pretty much a 2 yr old child. Why have no concern for such a consciousness, whether it's an animal, android, human, or whatever.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
refurb 10y ago
My dog will eat other animal feces. His standards for "food" are pretty low.
- thinkloop 10y ago
  Lulz Apparently this trait evolved as a way to keep the nest clean and safe during nursing of pups.
- spoofball 10y ago
  No one is talking about standards. I'm talking about food that might make your dog sick or malnourished. But to each his own.

projektfu 10y ago

I am a veterinarian with an interest in nutrition. While it is true that the vast majority of the brands are virtual brands who have another manufacturer making their food, it is not true for the three brands you have mentioned whose owners sell most of the food sold. Purina (Nestle), Iams (Mars) and Royal Canin (Mars) manufacture their own food, as does Hill's (Colgate-Palmolive) and Pedigree (Mars). Mars, Nestle and Colgate-Palmolive represent over 80% of the market share in pet food. [1] [1] http://www.slideshare.net/Euromonitor/state-of-the-pet-care-market-in-2015 http://www.slideshare.net/Euromonitor/state-of-the-pet-care-...

DrScump 10y ago
<Purina (Nestle), Iams (Mars) and Royal Canin (Mars) manufacture their own food> One roster: http://aplusflintriverranch.com/define-menufoods-petfoodrecall.php http://aplusflintriverranch.com/define-menufoods-petfoodreca...
- projektfu 10y ago
  Ok, I was unaware of these SKUs. I will have to ask if they learned their lesson.

smsm42 10y ago

> We agonize over which brand is healthier for our cats and dogs, but it's all an illusion. The fact that one factory makes the food doesn't mean brands are illusion. One factory can make different kinds of food. True, machines and employees are the same, but that does not mean food content is the same - in fact, different companies may very well order very different mixes to be packed on the same equipment. In fact, the same factory produced Chevrolet Prizm and Toyota Tacoma - but they are hardly the same car.

andyjdavis 10y ago

Out curiosity, is (relatively) unprocessed meat for pets available in supermarkets in north america? In Australia you can buy packets of kangaroo meat for consumption by pets as kangaroos are essentially pests in many areas. This results in a large supply of meat that has limited commercial value so most supermarkets will stock frozen packets of what is (I believe) 100% kangaroo mince for people to feed to their pets. Curious if there is an equivalent option elsewhere.

err4nt 10y ago
This is the most unique and fun thing Ive seen shared on HN in a while! It makes a ton of sense. I can speak for all of North America, but nothing like that is available in Ontario (the most populous province in Canada). We have dry food and canned meat for dogs and cats, and a new thing showing up in grocery stores in Canada, and walmarts in the US are refrigerated, 'fresh' meat pellets. They are expensive, and spoil quicker than my cat can eat it. I would jump at the chance to have 100% pure shredded meat for my pets. I bet there are lots of happy dogs and cats in AU that dont even know how good they have it :)

geon 10y ago

> We agonize over which brand is healthier for our cats and dogs, but it's all an illusion. Does manufacturing the product at the same location imply that the content is the same?