Pet Food Field Trip
Yesterday I took a field trip to Walmart and visited the pet food aisle. It was a very discouraging visit. I won't mention any pet food product by name, but below are some interesting pet food sales tricks I learned from the Walmart visit.
The most unique sales trick - the exact words are changed to protect the identity of this particular pet food - blazoned across one food was the name Crunchy Beefy Nuggets. Did you catch the 'trick'? Crunchy Beefy Nuggets is a trademarked name (little TM after the word Nuggets) - it's a name, that's all. The name has nothing to do with the ingredients in the pet food. Very slick marketing.
The most common sales technique I found was pet foods that are 'flavored'. The actual name of the pet food was 'Steak and Vegetable Flavor' or 'Chicken and Fish Flavor' - one even got very specific with the name mentioning Albacore Tuna and Yellow Fin Tuna FLAVOR. The trick there is the pet food is just FLAVORED with steak and vegetables or Albacore Tuna - that's not really what's in the pet food!!! Again - it's just the flavor. Most people do not get that - they see Albacore Tuna and Yellow Fin Tuna or they see Steak and Vegetable --- they don't see Flavor. Most pet owners just assume that since the front of the pet food bag - in big bold letters says Albacore Tuna on it - it's got Albacore Tuna inside the bag. If the food actually had Steak and Albacore Tuna in it - it wouldn't say 'Flavor' on the front - it would say 'with Steak and Albacore Tuna' and it would cost more than $.50 cents a can or $5.00 a bag (Albacore Tuna does cost more than Albacore Tuna Flavor).
One of the pet foods stated 'No Fillers' on the front of the bag. However the first three ingredients of the pet food were Ground Corn, Chicken by-products, Corn Gluten Meal - that sounds like fillers to me!
Another pet food bragged 'New Shapes and Colors'. Dyes are controversial and provide no nutritional value to the pet.
One pet food stated it contained Protein and Phosphorus for Strong Muscles. Wikipedia provides us with the following definition of Phosphorus - "The most important commercial use of phosphorus-based chemicals is the production of fertilizers. Phosphorus compounds are also widely used in explosives, nerve agents, friction matches, fireworks, pesticides, toothpaste, and detergents. Among other uses these are used to improve the characteristics of processed meat and cheese." I don't think I'd brag about phosphorus.
During my Walmart field trip I found many dog and cat foods with pictures of steak and chicken and fish on the front of the bags or cans, but I did not find many pet foods with steak or chicken or fish inside the bag or can. BHA and BHT (chemical preservatives linked to cancer), Animal Fat (FDA determined to be the pet food ingredient most likely to contain euthanized animals including the euthanizing drug), and Dyes (only benefits the pet owner - has no nutritional benefit to the pet).
I left the pet food aisle just shaking my head - actually more than a little blown away at how many by-products, meat and bone meals, and BHA/BHT pet foods that were there. In the 20 minutes or so I was looking at pet food and pet treat labels, probably five or six pet owners came in and purchased pet food. I kept my mouth shut - but it was very tough to do. To give Walmart a little credit - there were a couple of pet foods that were good (not great, but good). I understand that not everyone can afford to spend $25 for a 20 pound bag of pet food. But in my opinion, no one should spend a dime on pet foods that contain by-products, meat and bone meals, and BHA/BHT (or other chemical preservatives). Read the labels of your pet's food and treats. Learn the Truth About Pet Food.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
Before you purchase one more bag or can of pet food learn the Truth About Pet Food. Sign up for the free newsletter and subscribe to Petsumer Report. http://www.TruthAboutPetFood.com
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which means you may freely reprint it, in its entirety, provided you include the author's resource box along with LIVE links (without "nofollow" tags).
by: SusanThixton
Total views: 13
Word Count: 696
Rating: Not yet rated