Last blog post we discussed the risks of buying imported dog treats that have been irradiated and some of you have asked how to identify imported dog treats at the supermarket or at a pet store.
I mean, I hope all of your doggo's treato needs are fulfilled right here at Ferguson's (haha) where everything is guaranteed to be made from 100% Australian ingredients (so nothing is irradiated and you don't have to worry about any of this.)
BUT, in case you need to visit the pet treat aisle at the supermarket or you'd just like to be more informed about dog treat origination, below are 3 ways to quickly identify where your dog treats are made.
Remember that the dog food industry is unregulated so there are no standards as to what information brands are required to put on their packaging. This is why having some knowledge on how to navigate dog treats origination can be useful.
1. Country of Origin / Country of Manufacturing
Look for "Country of Origin" or "Country of Manufacturing". This is usually written near where the ingredients are listed. Look at the back of the packet, at the small print as this is where this information is usually listed.
Other common terms used:
- Made in ___
- Sourced from ___
- Product of ____
Be aware of brands that write "Packaged in Australia" as that means the treats themselves may still imported and are only repackaged in Australia.
2. Made from X% Australian Ingredients
Some treats will say "Made from X% Australian Ingredients". If it's not made from 100% Australian ingredients then it is likely to NOT be a single ingredient treat (not the best)
And depending on which parts are imported, if it is the protein component, then it will likely to have been irradiated. Doubtful, they would tell you though.
If it's not a single ingredient treat then I would see what other ingredients are included, best to stay away from sugar, salt, glycerine and artificial colourings and preservatives.
Try and stick to 100% Australian Ingredients where possible to eliminate the risk of irradiation.
3. Do Not Feed to Cats
Pet food brands are required to put "Do not Feed to Cats" for all pet food or treats that have been irradiated. This is because irradiated food and treats have been linked to cat deaths so all imported meats are no longer allowed to be fed to cats.
No doubt this warning will be written in small text, somewhere obscure on the back of the packet so you'd have to really be looking for it.
Last Notes...
Another thing I've noticed recently is that some brands use the same packaging for different treat types.
For example, the one bag may be used to package Beef liver (Made in Australia), Beef Tendons (Made in Brazil) and Chicken Jerky (Made in Thailand).
And all of these ingredients are listed with their respective country of origin in the same ingredient panel on the same bag! Even though the bag contains only one of these treats at any one time.
This bag is used to package Roo Jerky, Roo Patties or Roo Chews - note that only the Roo Jerky is showing as 100% roo meat. Not sure which treat type the natural casing and preservatives would apply to though.
It's really confusing at best, misleading at worst...
Confused? Our recommendation is to best shop treats at a store where only Australian ingredients are used, like Ferguson's - woof!