Do you really know who makes your pet care products?

You may be surprised to find who your hard-earned money is really going to when you purchase commercial pet care products. (It also explains why so many pet care recalls overlap- because many are made by the same companies, but marketed under different names.)

See if you’ve bought any of the products below and match them to their parent corporation. You may be shocked to see so many products are made by large corporations who are also in the human food production business (hint: they’re using leftover scraps to make pet care products to capitalize on the waste).

Mars Petcare Brands:  Pedigree, Cesar, Goodlife Recipe, Nutro, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, Iams, Evo, Karma, California Naturals, Healthwise, Innova

Including:  Cesar Canine Cuisine Bistro Entrees, Cesar Canine Cuisine Softies Treats, Pedigree+ Premium Ground Entrees, Pedigree Good Bites Senior, Whiskas Purrfectly Dry Food, The Goodlife Recipe Wholesome, Eukanuba and Iams newly formulated pet foods with prebiotics, Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Cat Formula, Eukanuba Healthy Extras Dog Biscuits, Eukanuba Custom Care, Iams Savory Sauce for Puppies, Iams Savory Sauce Active Maturity

Nestle Brands: Purina, Purina One, Alpo, Beneful, Busy Bone, Chew-rific, Deli-Cat, Dog Chow, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Gourmet Gold, Mon Petit, HiPro, Kibbles and Chunks, Kit ‘N Kaboodle, Mighty Dog, Pro Plan, T-Bonz, Purina Veterinary Diets, Whisker Lickin’s

Including: Chef Michael’s Canine Creations (Dry, In Sauce and Pate), Alpo Chophouse, Mighty Dog Select Menu Seared Filets, Pro Plan Shredded Blend, Purina One Natural Blends Dog and Cat Food

Colgate-Palmolive Brands: Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet
Including: Hill’s Science Diet Culinary Creations Cat Food, Hill’s Science Diet High Energy, Science Diet Indoor Cat, Hill’s Science Diet Lamb Meal & Rice Adult Dog, Nature’s Best Dog and Cat

Del Monte Foods Brands: Natural Balance, Meow Mix, Kibbles n' Bits, 9Lives, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Pounce, Gravy Train, Jerky Treats, Canine Carry Outs, Snausages, Nature's Recipe (Cat and Dog), Meaty Bone
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Including: Snausages Breakfast Bites, Milk-Bone Essentials Plus Biscuits and Treats, Nature's Recipe Farm Stand Selects Wet Food, Nature's Recipe Healthy Treats, Meaty Bone Chew-lotta treats, Kibbles n' Bits Wholesome Medley, Pounce Lickittys Treats, Pup-Peroni Ribs Treats

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​Also, keep in mind that only a handful of manufacturing facilities produce the vast majority of pet food in the world. Diamond (manufacturer of Taste of The Wild, Costco/Kirkland, 4Health, Chicken Soup, Some of the Solid Gold dry foods, Canidae, some of Blue Buffalo, and many more) for instance just a few years back, manufactured 40% of the world's pet food and has had dozens of recalls. When contamination affects a manufacturing facility, it typically affects every line of food produced in the facility. So, when many brands bring product ingredients into the same facility, the chances of contamination grow exponentially.

​Another thing to consider is that a large quantity of pet food brands will have their food produced in multiple facilities. Blue Buffalo purportedly had theirs produced in five different facilities. This not only increases the chances of contamination, but also of inconsistency.   

Pet food recalls will always happen and doesn't always signify that a company is subpar, but surely it is better to avoid the conglomerate overlap when possible.  I know it is difficult to keep track of all of this, especially since it is ever changing. Please feel free contact Earthwise Pet and ask any of our knowledgeable staff if you have any concerns.

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