A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations
Plant-based foods intended for feeding dogs and cats are available in Canada, though few studies have examined the suitability of plant-based foods for dogs and cats. All commercial plant-based extruded and wet pet food products available in Ontario, Canada, in 2018 (n = 26) were acquired and analys...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2348 |
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| author | Sarah A. S. Dodd Anna K. Shoveller Andrea J. Fascetti Zengshou Z. Yu David W. L. Ma Adronie Verbrugghe |
| author_facet | Sarah A. S. Dodd Anna K. Shoveller Andrea J. Fascetti Zengshou Z. Yu David W. L. Ma Adronie Verbrugghe |
| author_sort | Sarah A. S. Dodd |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plant-based foods intended for feeding dogs and cats are available in Canada, though few studies have examined the suitability of plant-based foods for dogs and cats. All commercial plant-based extruded and wet pet food products available in Ontario, Canada, in 2018 (n = 26) were acquired and analysed for energy, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins A, B<sub>12</sub>, D<sub>2</sub> and D<sub>3</sub>. Results were compared with recommendations of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). Thirteen products were labelled for adult canine maintenance, four for canine all life stages, one for puppy growth, two for adult feline maintenance, three for feline all life stages, one for adult maintenance of dogs and cats and two for all life stages of dogs and cats. Four products met AAFCO and one product met FEDIAF nutrient recommendations for canine maintenance. No diets met AAFCO or FEDIAF recommendations for feline maintenance or growth for either species. Nutrients most commonly found insufficient were: sulfur amino acids, taurine, arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA, calcium phosphorus and vitamin D. There were no nutrients unable to be provided from non-animal sources. Compliance with labelling guidelines was also poor, similar to other findings with commercial animal-based pet products. The results from this study indicate areas where producers of plant-based pet foods must improve to meet the industry recommended nutrient profiles and labelling requirements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16e7d8f507cc4357b62b4c22621e5a62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-16e7d8f507cc4357b62b4c22621e5a622023-11-22T06:30:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-08-01118234810.3390/ani11082348A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary RecommendationsSarah A. S. Dodd0Anna K. Shoveller1Andrea J. Fascetti2Zengshou Z. Yu3David W. L. Ma4Adronie Verbrugghe5Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Human Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaPlant-based foods intended for feeding dogs and cats are available in Canada, though few studies have examined the suitability of plant-based foods for dogs and cats. All commercial plant-based extruded and wet pet food products available in Ontario, Canada, in 2018 (n = 26) were acquired and analysed for energy, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamins A, B<sub>12</sub>, D<sub>2</sub> and D<sub>3</sub>. Results were compared with recommendations of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). Thirteen products were labelled for adult canine maintenance, four for canine all life stages, one for puppy growth, two for adult feline maintenance, three for feline all life stages, one for adult maintenance of dogs and cats and two for all life stages of dogs and cats. Four products met AAFCO and one product met FEDIAF nutrient recommendations for canine maintenance. No diets met AAFCO or FEDIAF recommendations for feline maintenance or growth for either species. Nutrients most commonly found insufficient were: sulfur amino acids, taurine, arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA, calcium phosphorus and vitamin D. There were no nutrients unable to be provided from non-animal sources. Compliance with labelling guidelines was also poor, similar to other findings with commercial animal-based pet products. The results from this study indicate areas where producers of plant-based pet foods must improve to meet the industry recommended nutrient profiles and labelling requirements.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2348balanced dietcanine nutritioncat fooddog foodfeline nutritionnutritional adequacy |
| spellingShingle | Sarah A. S. Dodd Anna K. Shoveller Andrea J. Fascetti Zengshou Z. Yu David W. L. Ma Adronie Verbrugghe A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations Animals balanced diet canine nutrition cat food dog food feline nutrition nutritional adequacy |
| title | A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations |
| title_full | A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations |
| title_fullStr | A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations |
| title_short | A Comparison of Key Essential Nutrients in Commercial Plant-Based Pet Foods Sold in Canada to American and European Canine and Feline Dietary Recommendations |
| title_sort | comparison of key essential nutrients in commercial plant based pet foods sold in canada to american and european canine and feline dietary recommendations |
| topic | balanced diet canine nutrition cat food dog food feline nutrition nutritional adequacy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2348 |
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