Petco bans artificial ingredients in pet foods

(13 Nov 2018) LAUREN RAY NEVER HAD A DOG BEFORE BEAR, A 9-MONTH-OLD SHEPHERD MIX.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lauren Ray, pet owner.  "I truly like fell in love so I care about him like I would like a brother, sister, child kind of thing."
THAT INCLUDES GIVING HIM THE BEST FOOD SHE CAN.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lauren Ray, pet owner. "So initially I decided that he should probably eat organic food just because I want my dog to live as long as possible. "
SHE'S NOT ALONE IN TURNING TO NATURAL AND ORGANIC FOODS FOR HER PET. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY NIELSEN, THE US MARKET SHARE OF NATURAL PET PRODUCTS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 6.5 PERCENT BETWEEN 2013 AND 2017.
AND NOW PETCO SAYS IT PLANS TO STOP SELLING DOG AND CAT FOOD AND TREATS WITH ARTIFICIAL COLORS, FLAVORS AND PRESERVATIVES.
THE MOVE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AMONG MAJOR PET STORES. THE COMPANY SAYS IT'S MAKING THE CHANGE BECAUSE ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS ARE A BIG CONCERN FOR PET OWNERS.
BUT ONE CHICAGO VETERINARIAN SAYS CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T BE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS IN PET FOOD.
SOUNDBITE (English), Donna Solomon, Animal Medical Center of Chicago: "Well I unfortunately do think it's a marketing ploy. I think they're trying to differentiate themselves from other companies. And I don't know if it has a lot of weight.  Most canned food do not contain preservatives."
BUT SHE AGREES WITH ELIMINATING ARTIFICIAL COLORING.
SOUNDBITE (English), Donna Solomon, veterinarian, Animal Medical Center of Chicago: "Cat and dogs do not use color as a way to decide what food to choose. So why put unnecessary items in their food?"
PETCO EXPECTS TO REMOVE ALL FOOD WITH ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS BY MAY 2019 -- BOTH ONLINE AND AT ITS 1,500 STORES IN THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO.
LAUREN RAY SUPPORTS THE CHANGE AND SAYS SHE WILL LIKELY VISIT THE RETAILER MORE NOW.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lauren Ray, pet owner.  "I think it's pretty cool because they're kind of paving the way for other dog stores, shops, whatever."
Nats (That's a good buddy)
A PET OWNER WANTING TO ENSURE HER NEW BUDDY IS AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
CARRIE ANTLFINGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS.

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