[Ellie May]

I posted in the other thread again.

No, I don't think an AAFCO feeding trial is enough, but that's about the best there is...

If a company didn't run one, why not?
If they don't have a vet nutritionist on staff (who went through probably at least 10+ years of school and are experts), why not?
If they don't do either of these things, I'm really concerned...

Some of these companies just have DVMs?? I love my DVM, but she ain't qualified to formulate a kibble for the nation's dogs! She tells me to talk to a vet nutritionist...

I just recently noticed the "better" kibbles with all the meat have the highest phosphorus %.

And even things like by products (I dont' feed them unless I have to - the thought grosses me out), really how bad are they? Why not ask the company what is included in those by products? Some of it is organ meat that has to be listed as that. It will contribute a significant amount of vitamins/minerals. So does less by products mean more synthetic vitamins? I don't have the answer to that and I'm certainly not going out to buy a bag of regular SD right now, but I think these new companies are expert at marketing and I'm not convinced that they are making meaningful contributions to canine nutrition with their possible lack of research. But that is JMO.