Evaluation of nutritional value and microbiological safety in commercial dog food

Abstract

In addition to properly balancing nutritional value in accordance with the needs of a dog, estimating the microbiological quality of dog food is crucial in providing healthy and safe foods. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of dry food for adult dogs, with particular reference to: (1) evaluating the nutritional value and compliance with nutritional guidelines for dogs, (2) comparing the nutritional value of dog foods, with particular emphasis on the division into cereal and cereal-free foods, and (3) evaluating their microbiological safety. All thirty-six evaluated dry dog foods met the minimum European Pet Food Industry FEDIAF requirement for total protein and fat content. The total aerobic microbial count in the analyzed dry dog foods ranged from 2.7 × 102 to above 3.0 × 107 cfu/g. In five (14%) dog foods the presence of staphylococci was detected; however, coagulase positive Staphylococcus (CPS) was not found. Mold presence was reported in one cereal-free dog food and in six cereal foods. In none of the analyzed foods Enterobacteriaceae were found, including coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Bacteria of the genus Listeria and Clostridium as well as yeasts were also not detected. In conclusion, the evaluated dry dog foods had varied microbiological quality. The detected number of microorganisms may have some implications for long-term consumption of contaminated food. The lack of European Commission standards regarding the permissible amounts of microorganisms in pet food may result in insufficient quality control of these products.

Evaluation of the Chemosensoric Properties of Commercially Available Dog Foods Using Electronic Sensors and GC-MS/O Analysis

“…Consistent with the individual results of the E-tongue and the E-nose, the multivariate analysis results did not show significant difference between domestic and international products or difference by protein source. Currently, multivariate analysis is used to evaluate dog foods in various research fields [ 9 , 40 ]. In a study by Alegría-Morán et al, the PCA of the 10-year food preference database was used to relate dogs’ food choices with nutritional composition of the diets, and it was found that the content of crude fiber and dry matter negatively associated with dogs’ food preferences [ 40 ].…”

“…In a study by Alegría-Morán et al, the PCA of the 10-year food preference database was used to relate dogs’ food choices with nutritional composition of the diets, and it was found that the content of crude fiber and dry matter negatively associated with dogs’ food preferences [ 40 ]. The PCA analysis was also used to distinguish dog foods according to the similarity of the nutritional profile of the group [ 9 ]. Recent studies have shown that multivariate analysis of E-nose data can distinguish the aroma of beef and pork [ 41 ] and classify the aroma profile of beef according to quality grade [ 42 ].…”

“…Dry pet foods contain less than 20% moisture and are usually produced in the form of pellets and kibbles that are baked or extruded [ 7 ]. Dry dog foods have a long shelf-life and microbiological stability due to their low levels of water content [ 9 ]. Dry form is the most popularly used and constitutes the major segment of the pet food market since it is convenient to store and feed.…”

Biogenic Amine Content Analysis of Three Chicken-Based Dry Pet Food Formulations

“…Meat meals are often used due to their high-protein content and are obtained by the rendering process [ 37 , 38 ]. The lack of respect for good pet food manufacturing and handling practices [ 39 , 40 ] could result in a favorable condition for the growth of microorganisms capable of decarboxylation processes [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]. BAs can therefore be an alarm bell for possible microbial contaminations as they can occur in the final product as a result of microbial decarboxylation processes; this has been observed in dry dog chews and feeds, in sealed packages and in bulk [ 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

Influence of Bile Salts and Pancreatin on Dog Food during Static In Vitro Simulation to Mimic In Vivo Digestion

“…Commercial pet food contains over 10% crude fat [ 17 ], which is more than that in pig feed [ 18 ]. Previously, in animal research, pigs were the most used animals to study the in vitro simulation of digestion.…”