Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ocelot II

(121,661 posts)
18. They test their food with actual cats and dogs, like this:
Sat Oct 19, 2024, 12:58 PM
Oct 19
For decades, pet food manufacturers have used two-bowl palatability tests to determine which foods dogs or cats would prefer. During these tests, pets would be offered two bowls of food, each containing a different one. Researchers would note which bowl the dog or cat ate from first and how much of each food was eaten.

Now, however, more pet food companies are moving away from palatability testing and toward consumption studies. In a consumption study, the pet is fed one food for two days, followed by a palate-cleansing diet for a day, then fed a second food for two days. The amount of each food consumed is measured and compared.

“A consumption study is a more reliable way to measure animal acceptance of a food, more so than animal preference,” Brinkmann explained. “The palatability study was a grocery store concept used to generate marketing claims. As people have moved towards natural foods for themselves — most of which don’t taste as good as junk food — they are not as easily swayed by a marketing claim touting ‘better taste.’”

Pet food palatability has always been an intricate science. The shift in how Americans view their pets as family members, along with the increasing complexity of what pet parents want for their four-footed family members, has made pet food manufacturing and marketing even more complicated. That’s why, ultimately, pet food manufacturers make products that not only appeal to your dog and/or cat but also to you.
https://www.diamondpet.com/blog/nutrition/flavor/pet-food-companies-flavors/

I've tasted dry cat food. It's bland and greasy and needs salt.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I always laugh when the cat food label says such and such in a delicate broth. And I'm like good my cat hates Walleye Oct 19 #1
LOL SheltieLover Oct 19 #3
Testing ... with the pets? sinkingfeeling Oct 19 #2
Taste testing with humans or observing with the pets. debm55 Oct 19 #5
By observing Nature, of course. The same way engineers design airplanes. SheltieLover Oct 19 #4
SheltieLover, Most cat food doesn't have mice, in in the cans. But do have poultry and fish. And I agree, dogs will eat debm55 Oct 19 #8
Not our Standard Poodles. pandr32 Oct 19 #11
thank you pandr32, Dolly isn't to fancy. I pay for all this expensive Special Diet from Chewy. and when we go on a walk. debm55 Oct 19 #14
I once had a dog that ate poop. It sure grossed me out. pandr32 Oct 19 #22
I hate when people don't clean up after their dogs. Mostly I am a very easy going person.Put don;t leave the poop there debm55 Oct 19 #23
After the hit movie... MiHale Oct 19 #6
LOL SheltieLover Oct 19 #7
Is this for real? debm55 Oct 19 #9
Oh yeah...my one of grandsons is in love with the books... MiHale Oct 19 #10
That's a cartoon. You were trying to trick me. debm55 Oct 19 #15
Years ago I had one of my dogs need to go on a special diet after major surgery MichMan Oct 19 #12
Dolly Dog is on a special diet also. I never knew that . thank you MichMan. So they have human taste test pet food; debm55 Oct 19 #13
Brings to mind all sorts of scenarios MichMan Oct 19 #16
That's what Dolly eats. I'll take you word that it is bland. Not going to taste it. debm55 Oct 19 #17
Considering a lot of pet food isnt considered fit for human consumption by the fda.... getagrip_already Oct 19 #27
Agree. debm55 Oct 20 #31
They test their food with actual cats and dogs, like this: Ocelot II Oct 19 #18
OH. thank you Ocelot ll. However , have you cat really likes a certain food and has eaten it for a while. Then they turn debm55 Oct 19 #19
My cat is a total PITA when it comes to her food preferences. Ocelot II Oct 19 #20
Sorry, been there done that. debm55 Oct 19 #21
They Panel Test With Pets Volunteered By Owners ProfessorGAC Oct 19 #24
That's interesting. thank you ProfessorGAC debm55 Oct 19 #25
I hope they don't use Labs for taste testers. Diamond_Dog Oct 19 #26
Thank you Diamond_Dog debm55 Oct 20 #32
In all seriousness - - WVGal1963 Oct 19 #28
I was just talking with a friend about what I perceive there being a higher incidence of cancers in2herbs Oct 19 #29
Exactly! WVGal1963 Oct 20 #30
Alternative medicine: THC. I used it on two of my dogs with cancer. Both were cured but in2herbs Oct 20 #34
My heart goes out to you WVGal1963. I am so sorry about Jack . He will always be in your hearts. thank you very much debm55 Oct 20 #33
Aww thanks so much!! WVGal1963 Oct 20 #36
Thank you WVGal from a Pittsburgh Gal. debm55 Oct 20 #38
I'm surprised they don't make "other animal poop" flavor Kali Oct 20 #35
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, That is true. debm55 Oct 20 #37
Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»Something to ponder. How ...»Reply #18