Safe Keeping!

Pet food needs to be stored as carefully as human food

UNTIL RECENTLY (IN TERMS OF HUMAN HISTORY), storing pet food wasn't an issue, because pet food as we know it didn't exist. Companion animals foraged for themselves or received table scraps. If a particularly valued animal did receive a special diet, it usually consisted of fresh ingredients borrowed from a human menu. Nearly 150 years ago, however, all this began to change.

"The first commercially prepared pet food was a dog biscuit introduced in England about 1860," according to the Pet Food Institute (PFI), a Washington, DC-based trade organization that represents pet food manufacturers. "Since then," the PFI literature continues, "commercial pet foods have expanded to include canned, dry and semi-moist foods to meet a variety of nutritional needs." Today's animal scientists and food technologists synchronize their skills to provide safe, nutritious, and shelf-stable fare for pets-affording pet owners a convenience as unimaginable to our forebears as microwave popcorn would have been to the Lincoln White House.

To get an idea of the complexity of today's pet foods, let's say that, possessing a modern knowledge of animal nutritional needs, you set out to prepare your own pet food in your own kitchen. Here's what it would entail: You'd shop for quality ingredients-lamb, beef, chicken, fish, grains-compiling a healthful mix of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

To hedge your bets, you'd add a smidgen more vitamins (to counteract any lost in the processing). Perhaps you'd throw in a pinch of garlic or tuna flavoring to excite the taste buds. And, since nothing smells or tastes worse than rancid fat, you'd toss in some antioxidants to keep things fresh.

You'd grind up the concoction in your food processor and then-to save yourself from having to mess with this mash several times a week-you'd preserve the food by baking or canning it. Whew.

Fortunately, of course, you can simply visit your local grocery store, pet store, or veterinarian's office for the quality foods you need for your furry pals. But even though modern foods offer nutrition and safety, you still have to take a bit of care to make sure they're at their best. Here are some hints:

• Check the expiration or "best by" date. Nowadays, virtually all pet food companies include this information on their packaging. For example, "Our products list a -Best Before' date on every bag and on the bottom of each can," say the experts at Hill's Pet Nutrition.
• Keep canned food covered and refrigerated for one to three days at most after opening.
• Buy only enough bagged food to last a few weeks at most, advises Champlin. "Even with proper storage, food does go stale over time," he warns.
• Store dry chow in its original, tightly closed bag or in a freshly cleaned, covered container, say experts at the Nestle Purina PetCare Company. Light, air, and moisture can taint food through chemical oxidation and microbial spoilage.
• Call the pet food company's toll-free number (listed on the can or bag) if you have questions or concerns about how best to store your pets' food. Most companies also offer email customer service.

To sum up, for convenience and safety, choose a food recommended by your veterinarian from a company and a retailer you trust. Check for any sell-by dates or handling recommendations, then store the food accordingly as you would the food your human family eats.

DID YOU KNOW?
Dogs and cats have a sense of taste that is nearly 200,000 times greater than people's, says the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association, a European trade group. (www.pfma.com)

Cynthia E. Field, PhD, earned a doctorate in food chemistry. A former immunology researcher, college biology instructor, and dog breeder.

Resources:

Hills Pet Nutrition, www.hillspet.com

Nestle Purina PetCare Company www.purina.com

People Helping Animals, www.paws.org

Pet Food Institute, www.petfoodinstitute.org