Pet food in the information age

Sharing a story 

The public expectation for information and transparency about pet food is here to stay and, as humans continue to develop a stronger connection with their four-legged family members, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) is taking steps to strengthen the dialogue on pet food. 

PFI, whose member companies make 98% of all U.S. dog and cat food and treat products, serves as the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy voice for the industry. From media and policymakers, to the public at large, the company recognizes that a growing audience of pet owners are seeking clear, factual answers about a topic close to their homes and hearts. To that end, PFI relaunched their website and social media in 2016, populated with content about pet food safety, nutrition and ingredients, and healthy feeding practices to help pet owners make informed choices about what they feed their dogs and cats.  

Safety first

Food safety continues to be a major part of the conversation as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) enters the enforcement and compliance phase. PFI recently developed new, easy-to-digest web and video content to communicate how pet food is made and demonstrate that a culture of safety is driving continuous advances in the manufacturing process across different types of pet food. This content explores the many ways PFI members work to ensure safe, nutritious pet food throughout the production process:

• Working with reliable, responsible ingredient suppliers; 
• Designing hygienic manufacturing facilities and equipment;
• Inspecting and testing ingredients upon arrival;
• Continuous monitoring during manufacturing; 
• Developing packaging systems that help assure safety and traceability.

Connecting with pet lovers

Just as safety has evolved over the past 10 years, so has our relationship with our dogs and cats. A September 2016 survey by the Human–Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI) found that 98% of pet owners consider their pet to be an important member of their family. This a 10% increase over a similar survey conducted in 2007 by PetSmart.

PFI is helping to promote information about the human-animal bond by supporting organizations like HABRI and animal therapy organization Pet Partners. Data indicates that when people understand the special ways that pets can enrich a human’s life, these pet owners are more likely to support their pet’s animal’s health.

PFI celebrates the positive impact and growing bond with our pets, and is prioritizing communication that tells the story of how pet food can support your pet’s long and healthy life.