| Topic: | Use of artificial sweeteners in dog food | |
| Posted by: | Charlotte Kasner | |
| Date/Time: | 06/05/15 14:46:00 |
| Given the recent discussion of xylitol, I though that dog owners might like to consider the use of similar artifical sweeteners in commercial dog food. EU Regulation 2015/264 came into force on March 10th and authorised the use of neohesperidine dihydrochalcone as a feed additive for various animals, including dogs. It is of course one of many additives used to enhance processed feed and it can be very difficult to find out what is included as often items are listed as "plant extracts". The innocent-sounding "extract of rosemary" for instance is a highly processed additive (for animal and human foods). Regulations of labelling for animal feed are limited ("ash" anyone?). However, it is worth bearing in mind that most commercial feed, including some of the better quality brands, is processed at high heat to preserve it and extend its shelf life. The flavours are leeched out and have to be replaced (in a form that will inhibit oxidising) after initial processing. By and large, "you gets what you pays for", so beware cheap brands where more is spent on making them appeal to humans than on nutritional value for the recipients. (I am not advocating raw, BARF, home-cooked or any of the so-called "natural" diets). I know that this will probably provoke a storm of protest from those that feed raw but there are lots of arguments that can be ranged against them too. By and large a good quality, complete food will provide all the nutrition that a dog requires, but the situation with neohesperidine dihydrochalcone and other additives should be monitored. Details can be found here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R0264&from=EN |