The one upside to the recent pet food calamity is that it has brought to light the inferior quality of the food we feed our furry friends.

The pet food industry is virtually self-regulated. The only requirement they must adhere to is to label the name and address of the producing company, whether the product is intended for dogs or cats, the weight of the food, and the guaranteed nutrient analysis.

The source of the nutrients, however, is largely suspect. According to this alarming Earth Island Journal article, the “protein” in pet foods often comes from euthanized pets. As though that’s not upsetting enough, the animals can transfer pentobarbital, the drug used for euthanization, into your pet’s food.

Commercial pet foods also often contain additives, preservatives, and funguses (mycotoxins) that can further harm your pets.

As with the deception that occurs daily when it comes to “people food,” there is a major ruse going on that’s aimed to make pet owners believe that the only way to keep their pets’ healthy is to feed them processed canned or dry food.

In reality, the best thing you can do for your pets’ health (not to mention your own) is to feed them fresh, whole foods that are appropriate for their species (dogs and cats, of course, are primarily meat-eaters).