Rice products reduce taurine levels in cats...

I did not know this; from an article on FNES...

"A study by The American Society for Nutritional Sciences showed that dietary rice decreases the amount of taurine in whole blood and plasma in cats, and that despite the routine supplementation of commercial feline diets with taurine, cats continue to be diagnosed with taurine deficiency. The presence of rice in the food affects the content of fat and fiber, which in turn could affect the metabolism of taurine. To quote from the study: "Diet formulations with normally adequate taurine supplementation may actually be deficient in taurine if rice bran or whole rice is included as an ingredient."

I have known it for a while... thou the studies are incrediably small , it answers the ?? of why added taurine is needed...

Is the Waltham Symposium, where the paper was presented, the same Waltham that is owned by Mars? Guess they're serious about their research over there.

This study, by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences, proves that the rice products pet food manufacturers use as fillers in their foods reduces taurine in the body of cats.

This is a distressing finding. I'm surprised there isn't more commentary about it!