Champion Petfoods and fish "waste" (by-products)?

[Ellie May]

I wonder how true this is:
Issues Surrounding Champion Petfoods Orijen recall in Australia

Looking at the irradiation thing in particular. They didn't know what would happen when importing to AU? I'd be completed uncomfortable with this sort of thing.

I wouldn't say fish has to be $3+ a pound, but truly good fish is quite $$. Ok fish is going to be less. Fish from China is going to be cheaper. I'm sure Ry gets meat from China right now (maybe?), but I know it is dog food meat. When I go buy fresh fish for me or my pups, I really don't want it to be from China if I can help it. I think people expect too much of companies for what they want to pay. I also think a company can be very clever in listing ingredients that appeal to consumers. But there is so much difference in quality and that info can't go in the ingredient list.

A lot of by-products are very nutritious, but disgusting sounding or tasting to humans. Some (i.e. beaks. etc.) are much less desirable, but we don't know a company is using that type of thing unless we ask them.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by tem_sat

I pay 89 cents per pound for a 40 pound case of Tilapia. I would not necessarily rule out bulk purchases of superior grade fish at something under 3 dollars per pound.

I'm doing something wrong then, because my dogs eat tilapia sometimes and it costs me $9.99/lb at Whole Foods Market.

[tem_sat]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I'm doing something wrong then, because my dogs eat tilapia sometimes and it costs me $9.99/lb at Whole Foods Market.

OMG...yes. Only thing is, you will need to place a minimum order of 500 lbs.

[Maximo]

The irradiation thing is true. Champion withdrew from the the Australian market because of it.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Maximo

The irradiation thing is true. Champion withdrew from the the Australian market because of it.

I wonder why they didn't know that it is a law there to do that in that circumstance. And if they did know and allowed it... Sounds like cats there are still suffering from it. I guess this company just hasn't earned my trust and would have to do a heck of a lot to do so. I'm sure many would feel that way about SD which is fine. This is just way out of my comfort level.

_____________________
I think E's fish was like $6ish a pound? And then on sale buy one/get one. Tried to get stuff caught around here. Would be much cheaper in bulk, but I doubt it will be the freshest, best product out there. A company can't afford to do that kind of thing for the most part.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by tem_sat

OMG...yes. Only thing is, you will need to place a minimum order of 500 lbs.

They don't like tilapia that much and my freezer is 5 cu ft so gonna have to stick with my retail prices. Also I'm paranoid about where I buy my meats. I did manage to load up on chicken breasts (bone included) for $1.99/lb at whole foods (regularly $6.99). So I bought a bunch for the kids and us.

[jvigallon]

de·na·ture (d-nchr)
v.
1. To change the nature or natural qualities of.
2. To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially adding methyl alcohol to ethyl alcohol.
3. To alter the chemical structure of a protein, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.
I hope this goes to the right thread. I new at this.

[tem_sat]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I think E's fish was like $6ish a pound? And then on sale buy one/get one. Tried to get stuff caught around here. Would be much cheaper in bulk, but I doubt it will be the freshest, best product out there. A company can't afford to do that kind of thing for the most part.

You are lucky to live near the water! We, who are land-locked, virtually never get fresh fish. So far the 5 doggies who eat the Tilapia have not complained due it not being sushi grade.

In all honesty, what might be far better from a nutrition standpoint is simply feeding or supplementing with canned sardines packed in water with no added salt. The Tilapia has very little to offer in terms of omega 3's as compared to something like sardines.

-- My apologies for going off topic.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by jvigallon

de·na·ture (d-nchr)
v.
1. To change the nature or natural qualities of.
2. To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially adding methyl alcohol to ethyl alcohol.
3. To alter the chemical structure of a protein, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.
I hope this goes to the right thread. I new at this.

Welcome to YorkieTalk. I would like to learn more about denaturing and ingredients in pet foods. You could start a new thread devoted to denaturing and share info and sources that you have.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by tem_sat

You are lucky to live near the water! We, who are land-locked, virtually never get fresh fish. So far the 5 doggies who eat the Tilapia have not complained due it not being sushi grade.

In all honesty, what might be far better from a nutrition standpoint is simply feeding or supplementing with canned sardines packed in water with no added salt. The Tilapia has very little to offer in terms of omega 3's as compared to something like sardines.

-- My apologies for going off topic.

We use our ingredients strategically within a home cooked diet, so that optimum nutrition is achieved at each and every meal. So not all substitutions would be appropriate in terms of meeting the nutrient profile of the diet. Our source or omega-3 is by supplementation in one of our diets because I would throw off the fat % if I added salmon or another natural source. Yorkies are way too prone to pancreatic for higher fats so IMO this is something to tread carefully.

Btw sorry your land locked! That sucks. I can go down to the docks for fresh fish cheap. Cod, tuna, clams, lobsters, etc.

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by Britster

Because SD never lies, either.

I said I wasn't going to comment on anymore food threads but here I am lol.

So now let's all be SD worshipers until one of their recalls occurs or they beat around the bush about something. Because it WILL happen and it HAS happened in the past.

SD is not the almighty dog food makers and neither is Champion. I think they are both doing the best that they can, for what it's worth.



This it totally my feeling. All companies have their skeletons in the closet. Just the way it is. You are never going to find a 100% everything company in any industry, but especially dog food industry, where lots of terms are unregulated and misused, etc.

I never said that SD has never lied?? However I am shocked to see that one of the so called best dog food companies out there would use rendered meat. There are alot of Champion worshipers on this forum and thier products have been recommended as to be the only HIGH quality food to use and that everything else was garbage. Now I think its kinda funny that they are in the hotseat...
I get that no dog food company is perfect, but there has been so much bashing about how bad SD is and now as it seems they arent the only ones.
SD works for US and I will continue to feed it, I dont care what others feel about it. We all do what we feel is the best and that is all that matters right??

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I wonder why they didn't know that it is a law there to do that in that circumstance. And if they did know and allowed it... Sounds like cats there are still suffering from it. I guess this company just hasn't earned my trust and would have to do a heck of a lot to do so. I'm sure many would feel that way about SD which is fine. This is just way out of my comfort level.

They knew. Champion signed off on the irradiation of their food when it was imported into Australia. For some reason, the pet food received much higher levels than human food. The questions is, why didn't Champion bother to test the effects of the process on their product before allowing distribution? Champion also did not disclose to consumers that the products had been irradiated.

They withdrew all of their foods, both cat and dog foods, from the Australian market and they set up a "Compassion Fund" to cover the medical bills for affected cats: http://www.championpetfoods.com/Aust...ease_Mar10.pdf

[_Chrissy_]

Originally Posted by Maximo

The irradiation thing is true. Champion withdrew from the the Australian market because of it.

I saw this when I was thinking/researching about feeding my cat their food.