Why is pet food so bad?

Pet food ingredients that are most likely to be contaminated with mycotoxins are grains such as wheat and corn; and fish meal. There have been many large pet food recalls in response to illness and death in pets due to a very powerful poison, called aflatoxin, in dry food.

How pet food is destroying the planet?

But, with humans increasingly demanding human-grade meat for their four-legged family members, pet food is estimated to be responsible for a quarter of the environmental impacts of meat production in terms of the use of land, water, fossil fuels, phosphates and pesticides.

Is cat food safe for humans?

“Those are better,” Blatner says, “but they too are developed with cat nutrition in mind and aren’t formulated to keep humans healthy. It’s OK to satisfy the occasional craving, but you shouldn’t make it a staple of your regular diet.

How do pets harm the environment?

The biggest environmental impact associated with our animal companions comes from producing meat-based pet food, which uses land, water and energy resources, and is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. According to one estimate, owning a medium-size dog can have a similar carbon footprint to a large SUV.

Are animals killed for pet food?

PetMD’s Dr. Donna Spector — a veterinary internal medicine specialist — explained that pet food relies on leftovers from the meat industry. When animals are killed for meat, the lean muscle is cut off for human consumption and the remaining body (including blood, bones, organs, and beaks) is made into pet food.

Is pet food human safe?

Dog food isn’t designed for the unique nutrition needs of humans, though it is made from ingredients that are technically safe for humans to eat. Thus, it’s not inherently toxic for humans and may be safe in an emergency situation. However, eating dog food may increase your risk of developing foodborne illness.

Can humans eat human grade dog treats?

Now dog treats are an entirely different story. Several treats made with human-grade ingredients are on the market. Not only can you eat them, but in some cases, they are quite tasty. Whether dealing with traditional dog kibble or with dog treats, always look at the ingredients to make sure the food is safe.