1. Do you employ or contract the services of a nutritionist? Of yes, which one? (employ vs contract?). If you contract, how involved is the person in approving, designing, and researching original or new formulas?
We have two nutritionists on staff for better checks and balances. One is full time and has done 7 years post graduate work in nutrition, his work has been published in peer reviewed Veterinary and Nutrition journals for over 30 years. His work is also cited in the NRC Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats. The other is a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DVM, PhD, DACVN, DACVSMR) who has an office in our headquarters but is considered part time so he can continue his work in academia.
2. What are the qualifications of the person who formulates your food and who is this (I assume the nutritionist, but if not, please state)?
The nutritionists listed are above are the formulators for all Annamaet Products. Credentials listed above.
3. Where is your food manufactured?
All of our formulas are produced by Ohio Pet Foods (OPF) of Lisbon, Ohio. OFP has 2 facilities, one in Lisbon which produces the majority of our formulas and one in Sherburne, NY which produce our fresh meat formulas. All of our products are our own fixed formulas using our ingredients, while we have no ownership in the plant where our formulas are produced we have maintained a close relationship for the past 32 years. We are their oldest (longest) customer and with our background in nutrition and their background in extrusion we consider it more of a partnership at this point. Both plants are EU certified, MSC certified and NASC Certified, as well as being a USDA and APHIS approved facility.
4. What safety certifications does the manufacturer hold? (AFI, BRC etc) Also, what tests to do you do regularly? How often do you do these tests?
We are compliant with FDA FSMA Regulations and requirements for Pet Food Manufacturing. We do the tests every batch, once a month, once a year.
Raw Material Testing upon receipt, Finished Product testing prior to release, Sanitation Verification after every cleaning of the process line, Environmental Testing every week.
a) Full Nutrient Analysis?
Generally on new and revised formulas
b) Guaranteed Analysis?
Every Run
c) Pathogens (salmonella, aflatoxins, melamine, listeria, e coli, camphalobactor, etc)?
Salmonella and Aflatoxin
d) Do you test for pentobarbital?
We do not test for pentobarbital as all of our fish and meats are human grade and would be covered under EU testing.
e) Do you require a certificate of analysis/authenticity from your suppliers?
Yes
f) Do you test the ingredients yourself?
Yes
5. Do you do any feed trials (test your foods before they go to market in a live animal setting)?
Annamaet does perform AAFCO Feeding Trials as well as more comprehensive studies that go above AAFCO requirements. Additionally, all of our bags do include an AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile statement. We have been doing AAFCO feeding trials for over 30 years and no product is released without proper long term testing. Attached is some additional information about feeding trials which may be of interest,
6. Do you conduct any research? Do you publish it in peer-reviewed journals? Do you keep it as proprietary? About how many research projects do you conduct each year? How many projects do you conduct each year on a final product, rather than an ingredient?
Annamaet’s research has been published in numerous peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the Canadian Veterinary Journal, etc. as well as our research being sited in the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (NRC).
Partial list of published works
• MA Bell, CB Levine, RL Downey, C Griffitts, S Mann, CW Frye and JJ Wakshlag, “Influence of endurance and sprinting exercise on plasma adiponectin, leptin and irisin concentrations in racing Greyhounds and sled dogs.” Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 94 (2016), pp.154–159
• Spoo, J.W., Downey, R.L., Griffitts, C., Horst, R.J., Levine, C.B., Childs, R.M., Wakshlag, J.J., “Plasma Vitamin D Metabolites and C-Reactive Protein in Stage-Stop Racing Endurance Sled Dogs.” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Vol. 29 (2015), pp. 519-525.
• Dirsko J. F. von Pfeil, Bethany P. Cummings, John P. Loftus, Corri B. Levine, Sabine Mann, Robert L. Downey, Caroline Griffitts, Joseph J. Wakshlag, “Evaluation of plasma inflammatory cytokine concentrations in racing sled dogs.” Canadian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 56 (2015), pp. 1252-1256 .
• Huntingford, J.L., Levine, C.B., Mustacich, D.J., Corrigan, D., Downey, R.L., Wakshlag, J.J., “The Effects of Low Intensity Endurance Activity on Various Psychological Parameters and Exercise Induced Oxidative Stress in Dogs.” Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 4 (2014) pp. 134-44
• Wakshlag, J.J., Kraus M., Downey R.L., Vachhani P., “The Influence of High-Intensity-Moderate Duration Exercise on Cardiac Troponin I and C-Reactive Protein in Sled Dogs.” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine,Vol. 24 (2010), pp.1-5.
• NRC, “Physical Activity and Environment.” Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, National Academies Press (2006), Editor Bietz D.C.,pp 258-312, Chapter 11.
• Kronfeld, D.S., Atkins, T. O., Downey, R. L., “Nutrition, Anaerobic and Aerobic Exercise, and Stress.” Nutrition of the Dog and Cat, Ed.Burger, I.H., Rivers, J.P.W., Cambridge University Press, 1989, pp.133-45.
• Downey, R.L., “Heat Stress in Dogs.” Howl, Vol. 5 (1989), pp. 6-13.
• Kronfeld, D.S., Downey, R. L., “Nutritional Strategies for Stamina in Dogs and Horses.” Proceedings, Nutritional Society Australia, Vol. 6(1981), pp. 21-29.
• Downey, R. L., Kronfeld, D.S., and Banta, C.A. “Diet of Beagles Affects Stamina.” Journal American Animal Hospital Association, Vol.16 (1980), pp. 273-7.
• Kronfeld, D.S., Downey, R. L., and Banta, C.A., “Stamina of Beagle is Influenced by Diet.” Proceedings, American College Veterinary Internal Medicine, Seattle (1979), P. 105.
• Downey, R.L., “Feeding for Winning.” Hounds and Hunting, Vol. 76(1979), pp. 32-36.
• Downey, R.L., “Musher (With a Difference!) With Leatha Braden.” Siberian World, Vol. 3 (1979), pp. 3-8.
7. Is your nutrient analysis for each of your formulas available if requested or available easily online, or do you consider it proprietary information? If proprietary, why?
We are in the process of updating our website to include a more in-depth nutrient analysis. We can certainly provide a more in depth analysis upon request.
8. What percent of the protein in your food comes from animal products vs plant products?
All of our Annamaet formulas are heavily meat/ fished based with 67% to 85% of the protein coming from these sources. The level varies depending on the specific formula.
9. Could you please explain the standards that the EU holds your ingredients and food to? How does a food get EU approved? (Basically any and all info you can give about EU approved foods and specifically yours).
Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) European Union (EU) Certification; this is what a pet food manufacturer must have before a pet food can be shipped to Europe.
A pet food manufactured in the US and exported to Europe must be made from ingredients “fit for human consumption”.
The European regulations state “The legislation prohibits the use of any rendered protein which was obtained from animal carcasses that were unfit for human consumption as an animal feed ingredient or for pet food.”
As well, APHIS EU certified pet foods would be GM free.
Besides meat ingredients fit for human consumption and non GM ingredients, each shipment of pet food (to obtain APHIS EU certification) “Pet food manufacturers must obtain a health certificate that is signed by APHIS after pet food manufacturing facilities have been inspected and officially approved by APHIS veterinary services. A health certificate must accompany each individual pet food shipment.”
Suppliers of cereals, meat or fish must be approved by APHIS. Approval is based upon freshness, nutritional quality and digestibility. Quality control at the manufacturing site measure levels of protein and the percentage of fat. Additional quality controls cover hygiene, packaging and storage.
What specific tests (if any) must be done and how often?
Yearly APHIS site audits for certification, Salmonella and EBAC on every lot.
10. Do you meet WSAVA guidelines?
Yes, I believe Annamaet Petfoods meets all of the WSAVA requirements.