Pet Food Testing Labs
Pet food testing labs provide a number of important services to pet owners. These include chemical analysis, microbiological tests and feeding trials.
Feeding trials are often done using purposely-bred dogs in laboratory kennel settings. These animals are not allowed to walk outside or experience any form of human love.
Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis section of a pet food label provides an important glimpse into the nutrient levels of the food. It is regulated to display minimum levels of crude protein, fat and crude fiber and maximum levels of moisture and ash.
Unfortunately, this information can still be misleading to consumers. These nutrient levels are reported on an “as fed” basis, which includes the water in the product (meaning that if you compare the GA of a dry food to a canned food, the dry food will appear much higher in protein). To get an accurate comparison between diets, it’s best to look at the guaranteed analysis figures on a “dry matter” basis.
Responsible pet food manufacturers understand the importance of keeping detailed records for their products, including the guaranteed analysis. They also take suspected toxicology testing very seriously, working with veterinarians to submit samples of sick or dead pets for laboratory toxicological testing. Toxicological testing is expensive, so this service is reserved for those who really need it.
Analytical Services
All pet food manufacturers need to perform a variety of analytical tests, such as protein, fat and moisture analysis of both inbound raw materials and finished products. This is a requirement of the Guaranteed Analysis on product labels. Moisture is especially critical in dry pet foods to maintain product quality and palatability, and it also needs to be analyzed often because it can change over time.
Responsible pet food processors take any issues with their products very seriously, and many of them have dedicated in-house testing laboratories to ensure they can quickly respond to suspected problems with their products. These labs are typically set up with a mix of benchtop and walk-in fume hoods, and they are equipped with Formaspace laboratory workbenches.
The Animal Feed and Pet Food Testing Market is a large business, and it’s growing fast. Responsible pet food manufacturers should use a lab with specialized knowledge in this market, and they should regularly check to make sure their in-house testing equipment is up-to-date.
Regulatory Compliance
To maintain a level of consumer trust that makes their products desirable, pet food manufacturers must adhere to rigorous standards. These include strict ingredient sourcing and robust processing, quality control and accurate labeling. Sustainability is also important, with efficient resource use and minimizing environmental impact.
For regulatory laboratories, a comprehensive set of best practices must be in place to allow for mutual reliance on raw analytical data. These must include documenting the purpose for testing, sample origin and custody, sampling procedures, analytical methods, and staff competencies.
The Association for Truth in Pet Food tested many of the most popular brands of cat and dog food and found high levels of mycotoxins, problematic nutrient concerns, and bacterial contamination risks. These issues threaten the health and safety of pets and their humans. A lab that specializes in these tests can help ensure your food is safe for consumers. They can also assist with determining if your food is compliant with state feed laws.
IEH Laboratories
IEH Laboratories specializes in testing for mycotoxins, including aflatoxin and fumonisins. Their services include analyzing food, feed, and grain samples, as well as assessing the safety of raw materials and finished products. The company also offers consulting and training services.
Mansour Samadpour, a Seattle consultant who runs IEH Laboratories, says outbreaks like the E coli O157:H7 strain that sickened more than two dozen people are far more common than we might think. He attributes many of these incidents to a lack of sanitation and poor layout in the design of processing plants.
Led techno is a laboratory supply company that provides equipment, disposables, and reagents for microbiology labs. Their patented Easygel media drastically reduces the time spent on sampling and allows for more accurate testing results. They offer quality, know-how, and client orientation in everything they do. They serve clients all over the world.