Striking a balance

Exciting and exotic

In the last decade, we have witnessed the rise of wild, raw and organic trends into the acclaimed niche of pet food nutrition. But there seem to be a lot of controversies that go along with them. 

Even though exciting, exotic ingredients require the manufacturer to have much more nutritional expertise, as they have the potential to affect the metabolism of other nutrients in ways that have not been previously described.

Research is continuously underway to anticipate and address such questions but cannot always keep pace with the rapidly evolving market we find ourselves operating in. While we wait for the answers that will arise from research, the pet food industry needs to be aware of the risk that comes along with using exotic ingredients and provide proper knowledge and expertise to avoid detrimental mistakes.

Is grain-free good?

Earlier this year, for example, there was a big question mark around whether following grain-free diets could be a potential cause of nutrition-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).  

The discussion centred on the amino acid taurine, which is essential in cats, but not in dogs due to their ability to synthesise taurine from precursor amino acids, methionine and cysteine, as well as from glutathione, choline, and carnitine. 

The link between taurine deficiency and DCM is not yet completely understood and the research is ongoing. Nonetheless, studies have shown associations between dietary factors and taurine deficiency in dogs, such as lamb, rice bran, high fibre diets, and very low protein diets including the diets with a high percentage of legume protein naturally low in sulphur amino acids – taurine precursors. 

Phosphorous intake

The possibility of a link between phosphate nephrotoxicity and high protein processed diets was also discussed earlier this year in veterinary nutrition circles, in light of what we know about excessive inorganic phosphorous intake and its negative impact on the health status and renal health of our pets.  Here the additional problem lies in the fact that the definitive amount of phosphorous from food additives often cannot be quantified so the responsibility remains in the hands of the industry. 

Responsible raw

Another new trend is the raw meat-based diet (RMBD). Research based on an evaluation of infectious disease risks and public health concerns when feeding an RMBD has not been kind to this rising trend. Nevertheless, many have shown that it is possible to produce a safe RMBD diet. Once again, knowledge and responsible production practice are key to success. 

What lies ahead?

We are witnessing the rise of personalised nutrition, the inclusion of medium chain fatty acids in pet food, the buzz around insects in pet food. All of this requires more nutritional expertise than ever. 

There should always be a healthy balance – of ingredients, of trends, of novelty – and especially, between sceptical science and exciting innovations. But above all, there should be a lot of knowledge and responsibility.