Protecting Your Pets' Plates

Consumers know food manufacturers have systems in place that reduce the risk of food-borne illness and other potential hazards in our food. Less common, is awareness of the rigorous policies of some pet food manufacturers to guarantee the quality and safety of your pet's next meal.
For example, Diamond Pet Foods follows a quality assurance plan in its manufacturing plants that requires its product to pass 151 safety and quality checks before it reaches your pet's food dish. The system is designed to add extra layers of protection.
"We believe pet owners should be able to purchase premium products at an affordable price, and, for the past 35 years, we've been committed to providing affordable, high-quality pet food options," said Mark Brinkmann, the company's chief operations officer. "The 151-check system will help us continue offering reasonably priced, premium products by adding extra assurance that our ingredients are top-quality and safe."
The system consists of 141 separate tests and checks on the incoming pet food ingredients, and 10 safety and quality checks on the final bagged product prior to shipment.
For testing of incoming grain ingredients, 12 samples are taken of each shipment, which is three times the sample number regulatory standards require.
Mark Mascarenhas, the company's quality control director, said the substantial final product tests provide additional assurance before the product is shipped to the customer.
"We have built redundancies into our 151-check system as an extra measure to prevent error," said Mascarenhas. "Our quality system uses the latest technology and equipment, and high-quality ingredients that help animals digest nutrients."
All of the company's products are "precision formulated" for content, quality, consistency and uniformity. In addition to its commitment to safety and quality, Diamond undergoes audits by a respected independent laboratory for food safety, quality and palatability.