Pet owners are more conscious about what goes into their pet’s food than ever before. You wouldn’t pick foods with hard to pronounce chemicals and byproducts for your family, and your furry friends deserve the same consideration. Trustworthy feed dealers are becoming the best source for high-quality pet food, and owners want to keep their pets as healthy as possible. Consider the following additives to avoid when selecting food for your pet.

3 Ingredients to Avoid in Pet Food

1. Meat Meal

Dogs and cats love meat, but meat meal is an unhealthy alternative added to many store-bought pet foods. “Meal” is a common ingredient that can include parts from dead animals, expired meat, and fatty tumors. The meal is treated and heated to strip unwanted pathogens, along with any nutrients these leftover parts may have. Opt for more natural-sounding ingredients available at your local feed dealers, like chicken, beef, and other meats, that can keep your pet healthy and active. 

2. Food Dyes                                                                           

Artificial food coloring contributes to allergic reactions and cancer in animals and humans. While humans may find coloring appealing, your pet does not need added dyes. Caramel coloring is the latest to come under fire for containing two cancer-causing chemicals found in the dye.

3. Animal Fat

Don’t confuse animal fats with healthy chicken or beef fat. Also known as rendered fat, this low-quality ingredient is a flavor additive made from unidentifiable animals. Dead and diseased animal meat can be used to create a low-cost additive that can make food taste better, but it also increases the chances of adverse health risks.

If you’re looking for the highest-quality animal feed, check out Bolivar Farmers Exchange in Bolivar, MO. Serving the Polk County area for 100 years as a certified feed dealer, you’ll find the best plant food, fertilizer, and farm supplies in the area. Visit their website for a look at animal feed, or call them at (417) 326-2664 today for a list of their full range of pet feed and services.