PROTEINS

             INFERIOR INGREDIENTS

CORN - An extremely poor source of protein, one that cannot be absorbed by the pet and is arguably one of the highest allergens there is for dogs & cats. It causes many of today’s pet maladies, yet is the #1 ingredient in many national brands!

   RECOMMENDED INGREDIENTS

IDENTIFIED  PROTEINS – Look at the percentage of crude protein, but it’s imperative that you identify the SOURCE of the protein. Look for identifiable protein sources like chicken, lamb, beef, fish, bison, etc. as the main protein source, not corn.  

  BY-PRODUCTS

CHICKEN BY-PRODUCTS – Contains the ground parts of chickens including the feet, feathers, undeveloped eggs, entrails, heads, etc.

LOOK FOR MEAL – A protein source listed as “meal” (lamb, chicken, beef, etc.) in the first 5 ingredients indicates a higher quality food and secures its position on the ingredient list.

 MEAT

MEAT - Most people assume that “Meat” means beef. In fact, the American Assoc. of Feed Control allows the use of ANY mammal tissue to be listed as “meat”. There is no guarantee where the “meat” came from. Usually a rendering plant.

Know where the meat is from - Instead of the mystery listing of “meat”, look for specific sources such as “beef, chicken, lamb” etc.

 FATS

ANIMAL FAT - Animal fat is obtained from the tissues of mammals and/or poultry in the commercial process of rendering or extracting.
 

CHICKEN FAT - is the highest of all animal sources in linoleic acid (over 23%), an important element for skin and coat health. Other quality sources include flax, canola and sunflower oil.

PRESERVATIVES

BHA, BHT & ETHOXYQUIN (E) – Cannot be used in human food. E is outlawed for use in Europe. E is manufactured as a rubber preservative! E continues to be used in many pet food brands. E has been found to promote kidney carcinogenesis & significantly increase the incidence of stomach tumors & enhanced bladder carcinogesis, according to several studies, including one by the University Medical School, Japan.

NATURAL PRESERVATIVES – All nutritionally sound and recommended pet foods are naturally preserved with mixed Tocopherols, vitamin E and similar healthy preservatives.

 FILLERS

BREWER’S RICE (hulls) PEANUT HULLS, BEET PULP –

Often listed as a source of fiber, these ingredients have no nutritional value and are included only as a stool hardener. Yet they are routinely listed near the very top of the ingredients.

CORN GLUTEN MEAL - A cheap waste product from the human food industry that provides incomplete protein for dogs. We consider this ingredient to be one of the benchmarks of poor quality foods.

WHEAT GLUTEN MEAL - One of the ingredients that caused illnessand death due to contamination in the 2007 Menu Foods recall. A cheap source of poor quality protein used primarily bt the lower-quality foods.

A nutritionally balanced pet food requires no additional additives or fillers. You can be rest assured that all of the foods sold at Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro have been researched in detail.