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What's in the Bag? Part Two

By , About.com Guide

Continued list of ingredients for the Premium Brand dry cat food. To review from here, the first listed ingredients were: Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, Duck, Lamb Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat..preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Canola Oil, Oatmeal, and Fish Meal, in that order. Here are the rest (again, my comments are in italics):

  • Brewers Yeast: "http://www.doberdogs.com/herbs.html" (From DoberDogs.com) Also see this USDA PDF file for more information on Brewers Yeast.
  • Rosemary Extract:

    I doubt the poor AAFCO ever dreamed that rosemary would be included in pet food. However, it is gaining popularity as a preservative. I also find reference to research in animal studies of its potential for fighting cancer, and its antibacterial properties. No harm, no foul, I think.

  • Dried Skim Milk: AAFCO defines "Dried Milk Protein" but I can find no definition for dried skim milk. A secondary source of protein and cats like the taste, but it is inferior to "meat" protein.
  • Natural Flavors: Here we go again! Actually, the AAFCO does have a new definition of "Natural": A feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices.But this listed ingredient is so illusive, that it might as well be left out. As a nutrient, it's value is close to nil.
  • Dried Eggs: No direct AAFCO definition to be found, however, it might be similar to that of Dehydrated Eggs, perhaps without the "thermal" reference; dried whole poultry eggs freed of moisture by thermal means.Another source of protein. (Eggs are the only "complete protein," but a cat couldn't live on an all-egg diet.
  • Carrots: No AAFCO definition. (Do you see a trend here?)

    Carrots are a rich source of Vitamin A, and many cats enjoy the flavor.

  • Whole Ground Flaxseed: No AAFCO definition foundThe manufacturer of this food states that flaxseed is added for benefits to skin and coat.
  • Kelp: No AAFCO Definition found.

    Kelp is the "darling" of raw food diet fans. It is a good source of iron, niacin, and potassium, and is often used in raw food diets.

  • Garlic No AAFCO Definition found.

    Garlic has been the subject of controversy among even the experts. Some lump it in with onions as causing Heinz anemia, while others claim potent antioxidant properties for it. Personally, I'd feed my cats a commercial food containing garlic, all other things being equal, but I wouldn't voluntarily add it to a raw diet either.

    The rest of the ingredients constitutes a dizzying list of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other weird chemical-sounding names, many of which are common to all commercial foods: DL Methionine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Cranberry Powder, Grapeseed Oil, Lecithin, Parsley Flakes, Tomato Pomace, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin C Supplement, Yucca Schidigera, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (a source of Vitamin K activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylene Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite.

    Although this list is too long to fully discuss here, new Cat Food Definitions Glossary will eventually describe them in some detail.

    The last part of this series will describe the ingredients in a very popular supermarket brand, one I fed my own cats for many years, with no apparent harmful effects.

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