Our pets: Are we feeding or pampering them?

Next time you are out grocery shopping check out the food in the pet food aisles or if you have a pet, then in your own pantry, and you will see that many of the trends in foods and beverages processed for human consumption—functional foods, indulgent treats, attractive colors, mouth-watering flavors—have crossed over into the pet food aisle.
According to the 2005/2006 National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), 63% of households in the United States own a pet, that is 69.1 million homes. The number of dogs owned as pets is 73.9 million, and that of cats is 90.5 million. That’s a lot of pets to feed, and consumers and food companies are spending the money to do it. The APPMA survey indicates that in 2005, $14.7 billion was spent on pet food in the U.S. market, and it estimates that that number will increase to $15.2 billion in 2006. According to Packaged Facts, New York, N.Y., during the first six months of 2006, pet food manufacturers launched 175 new dog and cat food products, including product extensions, in the U.S.

Nutritionists, food technologists, and veterinarians all play a role in formulating many of these foods. Some of the formulations contain such ingredients as glucosamine, thought to help maintain cartilage for healthy joints; fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid for proper brain development and healthy skin and hair; and antioxidants to strengthen the immune system. Other products are vegetarian or are formulated for pets that suffer from intolerance to certain food ingredients. Still others are said to contain a balance of certain ingredients to help maintain a healthy urinary system or prevent hairballs in cats.

So what is my point you ask? As a Food Technologist, this trend I see is awesome.... Lots of jobs created, R&D efforts are paying off, Food Technologists are getting innovative and Pet food is going gourmet... Obviously the industry I work in is thriving on it.
For example:
Nestlé Purina's 'Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys' Gourmet cat food, combines yellowfin tuna, white meat chicken, or wild salmon with sauces and broths, whipped egg soufflé, and garden greens. Their 'Alpo Chop House Originals' features flavors found in upscale steak houses such as ribeye, top sirloin, filet mignon, and pork tenderloin.
Mars’ Sheba® cat food is available in Alaskan king crab, bluefin tuna, gourmet salmon, seared ahi tuna, shrimp, Maine lobster, Pacific halibut, rainbow trout, grilled chicken, roasted turkey, rotisserie chicken, and filet mignon flavors.
Nutro Products offers Beef Ragoût, made with beef, peas, carrots, and potatoes; Hunter’s Stew contains real venison; Seafood And Tomato Bisque features salmon broth, whitefish, mackerel, and tomato paste; and Orleans Seafood Jambalaya contains fish broth, chicken, mackerel, salmon, ground rice, tomato paste, shrimp, and even red peppers. .. Holy cow!!

Iams® Savory Sauce in roasted turkey, pot roast, roasted beef, bacon, and country-style chicken flavors, comes in a squeezable bottle shaped much like ketchup bottles and can be used as a topping or a mix-in for dry or moist dog food. The Iams brand learned that many pet owners were mixing their dog’s dry food with things like gravy, broth, and table scraps,” says Amy Dicke, Technical Services Veterinarian for Iams. According to her “These homemade ‘mixers’ added unwanted calories and did not always provide optimal nutrition." (Nutrition!!!... I wasn't aware sauces were made to fulfil any nutritional need...) Thus, Iams Savory Sauce was introduced, which offers a healthy addition to the dog’s diet.” Made with real meat, poultry, and vegetables, the sauce is fortified with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and is available in formulas for puppies and adult and older dogs.

It's a feat that as a product developer I should be proud of..... to actually get dumb (as in those that cannot speak ) animals to be a part of the trained panels used in our consumer studies/sensory analysis in the lab, on the basis of which the products are rolled out into the market.. its no joke. To also get them to eat our products and stay loyal to our brand... I mean.... it's hard enough to accomplish that with human consumers. This then is definitely a triumph....
Hold on though ... Anyone else think this is absurd????
I mean, everything said and done, overindulgence is what stands out. I am not against pet care, or the pets themselves. Sure we need to fed them and treat them as a part of our household, but where do we draw the line? How many underprivileged people around the world can we feed, clothe, shelter and provide fair wages for with $ 15.2 billion? You do the math. If only the downtrodden/poor/hungry/disabled in every country enjoyed the status our pets do..... Imagine!

Based on the article published in Food Technology Nov 2006, Vol 60 No.11. 'Pampering your pet- Karen Banasaik'
Picture from http://us.iams.com
www.petfoodinstitute.org
www.ift.org