About Pet Food
Intro
Have you ever stopped to think how many DOMESTICATED living things EXIST because of us? And that they need to eat at least twice a day, EVERY DAY, around the world, besides us?
Here you have a sobering report that, of course, can only reflect the “official” side of the story. For you to form an idea, I invite you to read:
Facts and Figures
Cats, dogs, small fluffy mammals, ornamental birds or aquaria: the figures are a striking proof of the importance Europeans attach to their companion animals.
Please click here for the FEDIAF Facts & Figures 2014.
Pet animals contribute to the economy and society as shown by statistics from FEDIAF. YES !!
But this combined annual turnover of over €30 billion, “NEEDS to be as responsable and respectful of the environment as we possible can SINCE we all depend on it”.
Hey, aren’t we forgetting animal shelters ??? YES we are!
And last, but definitely not least (because they also eat), the saddest of all, which we never take into account: The animals for testing. Animal Testing Statistics.
These are known figures !! but hey! Those not appearing in this charts, also eat!!!
| Number of households that own a pet | Households |
|---|---|
| Dog | 46.300.000 |
| Cat | 38.900.000 |
| Freshwater Fish | 11.900.000 |
| Bird | 5.700.000 |
| Percentage of households that own a pet | 62% |
| Total U.S. pet industry expenditures | Billions |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $62.75 |
| 2015 | $60.28 |
| 2014 | $58.04 |
| 2013 | $52.87 |
| 2012 | $52.87 |
| 2011 | $50.96 |
| 2001 | $28,50 |
| 1994 | $17.00 |
And what about those who became the unfortunate pets of science ?? (they eat sometimes…)
| Animal Testing Statistics | Data |
|---|---|
| Total number of cats in the U.S. | 76,430,000 |
| Total number of dogs in the U.S. | 54,000,000 |
| Total amount of dogs and cats put to death each year | 13,400,000 |
| Total amount of animals killed each year in research | 19,500,000 |
| Total percent of all testing done on rodents (rats or mice) | 87.5%> |
| Total percent of testing done on non-human primates | 0,5% |
| Total percent of animals tested that experienced pain | 6% |
| Total percent of animals that experienced no pain | 61% |
| Total percent of animals euthanized to avoid pain | 31% |
| Tota percent of Adults that say they're against animal testing | 43% |
| Total amount of animals in the U.S. used for testing on agricultural experiments (not including mice and rats) | 1.13 million |
Total number of Animals in research annually
| Species | Total Number |
|---|---|
| Dogs | 66,610 |
| Primates | 57,531 |
| Pigs | 58,598 |
| Rabbits | 245,786 |
| Cats | 22,921 |
| Hamsters | 176,988 |
| Sheep | 32,260 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q.- What is the difference between Pet-food and Animal feed?
A.- Of greatest importance is the fact that, unlike livestock feed, pet food is brought into our homes and often handled by the owners or care givers, potentially exposing an entire family to the risks of feed ingredients, some of which I have mentioned in a blogpost I wrote some time ago … Pet Food Challenges – And Why We Need to Change.”Examples of the differences between feed and food…FDA’s Compliance Policy “CPG Sec. 675.100 Diversion of Contaminated Food for Animal Use” states “FDA does not object to the diversion to animal feed of human food adulterated with rodent, roach, or bird excreta.”Compliance Policy “CPG Sec. 675.200 Diversion of Adulterated Food to Acceptable Animal Feed Use”states “The *Center* will consider the requests for diversion of food considered adulterated for human use in all situations where the diverted food will be acceptable for its intended animal food use.” Read more about it from Susan Thixton via Truth about Pet FoodVery Different: US Pet Food and EU Pet Food by Susan ThixtonFor further information regarding animal feed regulations, you may contact the: Division of Animal Feeds, (HFV-220) Animal Food & Feeds.Animal feed legislation and guidance – Legislation on animal feed is harmonised at European Union (EU) level. (It applies principally to feed for farmed livestock, but also covers feed for horses, pets, farmed fish, zoo and circus animals, and creatures living freely in the wild.)
- Q.- Can I export petfood from the US to the EU ?
A.- All exports of U.S. pet food to the European Union must comply with EU requirements which include rules on labeling, hygiene, animal health, certification and the use of additives. Click here for the complete list of requirements.- “Exporting Pet Food to the EU” (FAS GAIN Report)
- “EU-27 Feed and Pet Food Labeling Requirements” (FAS GAIN Report)
- “EU-27 FAIRS Export Certificate Report” (FAS GAIN Report)
- European Commission – Health & Consumers DG – Animal Nutrition
- Catalog of Feed Materials (Commission Regulation 68/2013 of Jan. 16, 2013)
Good reads :
- Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats
by Gregory S. Okin Via journals plos.
- 8 Petfood Industry blogs for May 2017
by Petfood Industry
We need to talk about the environmental impact of the…
- Humanization, premium pet foods drive ongoing sales rise
by Debbie Phillips-Donaldson on june 5, 2017
(Ecommerce is another key driver behind continuing growth of pet food and pet care sales)
- Pet Industry’s Most Comprehensive Consumer Research Study Released, Finding Millennials as Primary Pet-Owning Demographic
(The American Pet Products Association (APPA) Biennial National Pet Owners Survey)
- For all things petfood you can follow Debbie Phillips-Donaldson is editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry.
- AAFCO discusses use of unacceptable pet food ingredients
Several different types of ingredients used in pet foods are under regulatory scrutiny.
Pet food ingredients / pet food regulations
By David A. Dzanis, dvm, phd, dacvn on april 10, 2017
- INFOGRAPHIC: Functional dog, cat food and pet treat trends
Consumers’ purchases reflect a concern for their pets’ health
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