Four pet foods were purchased on 8/19/15 at Walmart. The test was to see if hair could be found in the kibble, just like what is being seen in Pedigree Dog Food. The results…four of four had hair in the kibble.
It was a pretty simple test. Quick trip to Walmart, purchase four kibble pet foods all containing the ingredient “meat and bone meal”. My results…all four pet foods were found to have hair sticking out of the kibbles. Four of four.
First, the definition of the pet food ingredient ‘meat and bone meal’. The AAFCO definition of ‘meat and bone meal’ is (bold added for emphasis): “the rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.” It is very significant to explain that ‘exclusive of any added…’ means EXACTLY what it says. This ingredient cannot (should not) contain any added hair, hoof, horn, or manure – but it is perfectly fine to contain the hair, hoof, horn and manure from the animals being rendered. Just don’t put any “added” hair, hoof, horn or manure in it.
I opened the bags one at a time, and within seconds of opening each bag I began to see hair. It was a little more difficult with the cat foods as the kibble was small, but with close examination – there they were. Hairs…in every single food.
Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Chicken Flavor
Beneful Incredibites with Real Beef Dog Food
Friskies Indoor Delights Cat Food
And the pictures…sere attached
And the video story… https://youtu.be/Cg7iLtMMR5M
Hair in pet food is legal – per pet food ingredient definitions – but it certainly isn’t quality nutrition.
My thanks to Piers Smart of Scampers Natural Pet Store for the headline of this post. Piers tweeted the line ‘Hair for the Dog’ to me…I borrowed it. Thanks Piers!
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food