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About the Author

Hi there! Thanks for checking out my blog!

My name is Spencer Smith and I am a current student working on my M.S. in Grain Science. My research focuses on the production and nutrition behind pet food. Most people are pretty surprised when they hear this is an actual major! So how did I get here? For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I have always had a passion for animals of all shapes and sizes, and have worked with species from dogs and cats to snakes and opossums. However, when I took my first animal nutrition class, I found a new passion, and set out to learn everything I could about the pet food industry. What I learned is, that aside from the people working in the pet food industry, not very many people really know what their pet should be eating!

The goal for this blog is not to assert my opinions or promote any certain brands, but to educate you and let you make decisions for yourself! I hope you are able to learn something from this page. Please comment on posts or email me if you have specific subjects you would like me to cover or questions about the articles!

-Spencer

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What's In A Name? Decoding Pet Food Labels

All natural! Real beef first ingredient! Delicious gravy dinner with chicken!  As pet owners are drawn towards pet foods with flashy claims and pictures of dinners they themselves would like to eat, how many can say they truly know how to dissect the package? Many consumers don't know how to break down their own nutrition labels, let alone their pet's. Just as in the human food systems, pet food comes with its own set of rules and regulations. Knowledge of these can help you to clearly break down the options on the shelf to pick the best food for your pet. Who makes the rules?  Guidelines for pet food labels are dictated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, AAFCO has no legal jurisdiction over pet food companies, leaving the responsibility to enforce these guidelines to the government at both a federal and state level. Pet food must comply with the FDA, USDA, and FTC. Any drugs or therapeutic claims, such as in medicated diets for...