Solid Gold Formula Change
January 20, 2008
We regret to inform our customers that we have had to make the difficult decision to replace the salmon in our Barking at the Moon, WolfKing, WolfCub, and Just a Wee Bit dry dog food formulas with menhaden herring, labeled as “ocean fish”.
In our endeavor to continue to include the highest quality ingredients in our pet food products, we are sometimes confronted by market changes and/or events that make our pursuit next to impossible. In the case of salmon meal, we have reached a point in which it is no longer feasible, from both an economic and sourcing standpoint, to continue its use in our dry food formulas.
The fishmeal market in general has been extremely volatile over the past several years given worldwide demand. In particular, the cost of salmon has increased in cost by more than 20% in each of the past three years. We have not, nor could we justifiably pass on this financial burden to our consumer.
Secondly, and perhaps a more compelling reason to abandon salmon meal at this juncture is the unanswered question as to, “where is the salmon meal sourced”. We know that the availability of “wild caught” salmon has significantly dwindled due to huge demand and government protective intervention, to the point that vendors cannot provide 100% assurance that the salmon meal is not sourced from fish farms. This is not an encouraging trend, as farmed salmon is simply not an option for us. Farmed salmon is often fed antibiotics and it has been reported the waters they are raised in are polluted with carcinogenic PCBs.
Rather than cheapen the food by reducing the amount of this key ingredient, we have chosen to replace it with the equally beneficial Menhaden Herring. Menhaden Herring is a very clean ocean dwelling fish that we have used in the remainder of our dry foods for decades. Menhaden Herring is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are vital for good overall health and are essential for heart healthy and a strong, healthy immune system.
Given our standards for product freshness, our product ingredients are procured on a weekly basis. Therefore, given the present tightness of the fishmeal market, or in the case of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, there may be times that Menhaden Herring might be unavailable. In those very rare occasions we may have to secure an alternative ocean fishmeal with a dietary equivalent on the spot market to fill gaps in fish meal inventory. We consider Cod as a healthy alternative. Another cold water fish, cod is also very high in beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, as well as certain B vitamins, such as B12 and B6. While the use of Cod as a backup would be the very rare exception, and not the rule, our labels will reflect the generic ingredient “ocean fishmeal”. This will ensure that if we are ever unable to source a supply of Menhaden Herring, we can continue to produce the food with an alternate source of ocean fish, such as cod.
The formulas will be changed as new bags with the correct labeling are printed. A simple change in the type of fish used should not cause dietary upset in the majority of dogs.
Editors Note
Solid Gold is by far one of the highest quality dog foods available, both before and after the formula change.