Ensuring Pet Food Safety: Big Challenges, Steady Results

By: Leah Roberts | April 29, 2016

An increase in pet ownership over the past few years has helped focus attention on the issue of pet food safety: it’s big business and a big concern for people, as well. According to the American Pet Products Association, the 2015-2016 APPA National Pet Owners Survey reported that $60.28 billion was spent on pets in the U.S., with 65% of households owning a pet—a 25% increase over the past five years.

Pet owner spending includes simple food and grooming expenses as well as innovative and specialized premium products. With gourmet delicacies and “holistic” premium food choices now available, the global pet food market is expected to reach USD $74.8 billion by 2017.

Nobody thinks to ask about the family pet.

GfK, Germany’s largest market research firm released data last summer that revealed Americans are spending more money on raw food for their pets. Over the course of a year, retail sales of raw, freeze-dried dog and cat food spiked 64% and the sale of raw, frozen pet food jumped 32%. But according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Pet Food Study, the trendy, raw food that pet owners are obsessing over might actually be a human hazard.