Hmmm...Science Diet Changing its formula

Hehe, I like how they insult their client base for objecting to their using trash ingredients. Way to go, Hill's! :tongue2:

I hope they really do change their ingredients for the better instead of pretending to respond to consumer's needs/concerns (like introducing a "grain-free" food that's pretty much all carbs). And I hope they don't raise the prices! They charge enough as it is.

"because some consumers were making product choices based primarily on a set criteria for ingredients" - Lol, so essentially... people are starting to realize your ingredients are crap... :lol3:

Minka said:

"because some consumers were making product choices based primarily on a set criteria for ingredients" - Lol, so essentially... people are starting to realize your ingredients are crap... :lol3:

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You got that right! :lol3:

Willowy said:

Hehe, I like how they insult their client base for objecting to their using trash ingredients. Way to go, Hill's! :tongue2:
I hope they really do change their ingredients for the better instead of pretending to respond to consumer's needs/concerns (like introducing a "grain-free" food that's pretty much all carbs). And I hope they don't raise the prices! They charge enough as it is.

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I know, right? Insult your customers, that's a real great idea. :lol3: If they honestly did care, it should be more about eliminating corn and stopping all the gross rendering. But, big step for them to stop using byproducts!

kittylover23 said:

But, big step for them to stop using byproducts!

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Remember though, the only thing they promised was no more chicken by-products. They never said anything about any other animals...

Minka said:

Remember though, the only thing they promised was no more chicken by-products. They never said anything about any other animals...

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Ahhhhh.....I knew there was some kind of catch.

Possibly related...

http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/plastic-coated-pet-food-kibble.html
 

*SIGH* Really, Hills? Really?? Why dont you just shoot yourself in the foot already. Oh wait, you already have..

I dont even understand the point of this. Kibble already has a really long shelf life. Why does it need to be longer? Why do they need to try coating each kibble in Anything?? UGH.

It doesn't really sound like they plan to use it on the kibble itself. More like they plan to add moist bits (coated in the film) to kibble. And some of the substances they want to look into are fairly natural. But plastic? Eww. Even if it just passes through inertly I don't think it's healthy to consume it daily.

Minka said:

"because some consumers were making product choices based primarily on a set criteria for ingredients" - Lol, so essentially... people are starting to realize your ingredients are crap...

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and for the post. I am not sure, who, does, there PR work. But, I would think, insulting customers, is NOT a good idea. But, what do I know .

Minka said:

Remember though, the only thing they promised was no more chicken by-products. They never said anything about any other animals...

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and what about the CORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hill's C/D is responsible for my Pipsqueak's downfall last summer with the added bonus of SEVERE chin acne/folliculitis. Instead of saying that they are changing the formula only due to complaining consumers over their ingredients, they should be doing it because IT NEEDS to be done. I guess the pressure in on Hill's :lol3: LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Willowy said:

<snipped> But plastic? Eww. Even if it just passes through inertly I don't think it's healthy to consume it daily.

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Now, that sounds just great and lovely ! Are they (Hills) REALLY serious? If so, all I can say is WOW!

Cat Person said:

Now, that sounds just great and lovely :doh3: ! Are they (Hills) REALLY serious? If so, all I can say is WOW!

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Wow indeed!!!! Plastic? Way to go, Hills! :lol3:

Well, hopefully it will be a change for the better...

many people buy Science Diet based on recommendations from Veterinarians,  

so it would be nice if Hills would at least attempt to earn some of that business

by improving the quality of the ingredients.

Allison Forese said:

Hi all, I work for Hill's and wanted to clarify a few things about some of these rumors.

Yay, for, having an actual Hill's employee on the message board

. I REALLY HOPE, you continue to post

.

Hill's does not add plastic to any of our pet foods and has no plans to do so.

.

For any company that invests in research and innovation, it simply is common in a patent application to include broad descriptions of ingredients, technology or processes – even those that will not be used.

I am very sorry, can you explain that, to a lay person like myself?

We ARE reformulating our Science Diet[emoji]174[/emoji] foods to contain animal proteins such as chicken, chicken meal, fish meal as the first ingredient, and more natural ingredients with no chicken by-products, artificial colors or flavors because we are committed to the lifelong health of our animals. http://www.hillspet.com/our-company...e-new-packaging-more-natural-ingredients.html

I am very very glad and thank you for the link.

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Please note, my responses are in red, if, you need any clarification, please, let me know .

Allison Forese said:

Hi all, I work for Hill's and wanted to clarify a few things about some of these rumors. Hill's does not add plastic to any of our pet foods and has no plans to do so. For any company that invests in research and innovation, it simply is common in a patent application to include broad descriptions of ingredients, technology or processes – even those that will not be used. We ARE reformulating our Science Diet[emoji]174[/emoji] foods to contain animal proteins such as chicken, chicken meal, fish meal as the first ingredient, and more natural ingredients with no chicken by-products, artificial colors or flavors because we are committed to the lifelong health of our animals. http://www.hillspet.com/our-company...e-new-packaging-more-natural-ingredients.html

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Allison, while I appreciate hills tremendous amount of research but what, if this low density poly-whatever is not being added to the kibble, is Hills planning to do with this thermoplastic? According to an article I read, it will be used to increase shelf life.

The artice cited in the original post says that hills decided to add natural ingredients because consumers are focusing on ingredients rather than hills' plethora of research they have based their foods on. Please clarify this as we as consumers feel insulted by this. Maybe I'm thinking in too simple terms but using real and whole.ingredients rather than processed or rendered ones would be better for our felines. I understand that rx foods have their place but in all their research, would hills not discover that actual meat would be better for cats than corn and its derivatives? I will accept that corn may be a good source of protein and fibre but it isn't a complete protein and although some research has found that corn gluten meal is bioavailable it is not as available as chicken or even chicken meal.

I work at an animal hospital and have heard vets say that hills has the saMe "good ingredients as beneful" which is what the client was feeding her dog at the time. Beneful is the absolute worst food in my amateur opinion so what is this saying? I found that comment amusing.

I'm not trying to get your back up, just curious as to hills change of perspective.

GoingPostal said:

Possibly related...
http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/plastic-coated-pet-food-kibble.html

 

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From Susan's post:

This patent...invention is "a method for increasing the shelf life...or protects the composition from bacterial growth..." "For example these include a dry pet food comprising kibbles, bits, any other discrete materials, solid treat, supplements and the like, and even "chunks" in a chunk and gravy wet diet assuming the film can be properly applied to the chunk in the food processing and remain stable in the liquid environment of the container."

Further quotes from the patent (bold added): "The chemical used in coating the pet food is a polymer which should be physically stable during the process of its application and also stable during its lifetime on the pet food composition surface while being subjected to any further processing steps. Examples of these polymers include zein, casein, starch(es), cellulose(s), gum(s), gelatin, starch/synthetic polymer(s), e.g starch/low density polyethylene, and the like."

What is low density polyethylene? From the Polymer Science Learning Center: "Polyethylene is the most popular plastic in the world. This is the polymer that makes grocery bags, shampoo bottles, children's toys, and even bullet proof vests." (Bullet proof pet food?) Polyethylene with long chains or branched polyethylene - low-density polyethylene - "is cheaper and easier to make."

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Well, if I were still feeding dry food, I'm sure Ming Loy would LOVE it. She absolutely LOVES plastic bags! Many kitties do! So not only will it increase shelf life, it'll increase palatability!

LDG said:

From Susan's post:
Well, if I were still feeding dry food, I'm sure Ming Loy would LOVE it. She absolutely LOVES plastic bags! Many kitties do! So not only will it increase shelf life, it'll increase palatability!

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Which will increase sales. "Cats LOVE this food, so it must be good for them" people will say. Yep, right back to that bottom line. Never mind the cost to the pet's health. Anyway, once they get sick from eating such things, they can be taken to the vet and put on even worse things "scientifically designed" to solve that health problem that they got from eating the other food.

I never used to be so cynical about that cycle of bad food/vet visits/more expensive "prescription" bad food. But, having been through it myself, I am now.

LDG said:

From Susan's post:
Well, if I were still feeding dry food, I'm sure Ming Loy would LOVE it. She absolutely LOVES plastic bags! Many kitties do! So not only will it increase shelf life, it'll increase palatability!

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. You have me , at my desk, at work. Someone, asked, what was so funny. I am sure, ALL my cats, will love the food. They ALL love, plastic bags! Good point, LDG, on increased palatability! . Sadly, .