Raw food is becoming increasingly popular among American dog and cat owners, despite fear campaigns led by several organisations.
In an article published on the Web, Dr. Karen Becker explains market trends in raw food and her point of view (FDA Dire Warnings Create a Laughingstock, presented by mercola.com, April 4, 2016).
Here are the key points:
- Despite the fear campaign by the FDA, several veterinary associations (AVMA, AAHA) and several veterinary nutritionists, and several kibble companies, who loudly proclaim that raw food is dangerous, the market for this type of food is growing rapidly.
- According to a market study by GfK in the United States, in one year from 2014 to 2015:
- Sales of cold-dehydrated raw food increased by 64%.
- Sales of frozen raw food increased by 32%.
- A survey conducted by a raw food company among 1826 dog and cat owners in the United States found that more than a third of respondents are interested in raw food.
- More and more people believe there is a link between food that isn’t biologically appropriate and their pet's health issues.
Here is what Dr. Becker recommends as a diet, very similar to what I also teach:
- Dogs and cats need good quality protein and fat and a very small amount of vegetables for antioxidants.
- Animals need fresh food filled with vitamins and minerals with high moisture.
- They’re not suited to living well long-term on a dry food diet.
- We should prioritize foods that are low in carbohydrates, high in moisture, and unprocessed. Variety is also important.
My question is this: why are dogs, cats, and certain other pets the only species where many believe that processed commercial food is superior to fresh food?
Karine Simard
President, agronomist-expert in animal nutrition
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