Please Note: This web site is not the official web site of the Flint River Ranch Company. This site is owned and operated by FRR Independent Distributor P289. Any pricing, policies, including discounts, claims and return policies, may not necessarily be those of the Flint River Ranch Company and are only supported by the distributor who owns and operates this site. If you are already a customer of Flint River Ranch and this is not your original distributor or their web site, your distributor may not receive credit for an order placed on this site. What are byproducts? By - prefix 1. secondary, subsiduary, extra 2. past Product - noun 1. something made or created 2. a consequence 3. a result of multipying quantities. The term "meat by-products" or "offal" is commonly seen on pet food labels, but there is little other explanation offered as to what this means. By-products are items like udders, lungs, stomachs, livers, hearts, spleens, and tripe but also includes heads, feet, blood, bone and carcasses. The organ meats are usually rich in water-soluble vitamins, but like meat, are low in calcium. The carcass ingredients are usually rich in calcium and phosphorus but are poor nutrient sources. Can you tell what you are getting when it says "meat by-products" on the label? The Most Common By-Products In Pet Foods Meat Meal: This byproduct is rendered (processed to remove the fat and water) meat without added blood, hair, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, or stomach contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. It can include meat from "4D" animals (dead, dying, diseased or disabled), which comes from animals condemned for human consumption. Can be made up of any animal or animal parts. Animal Digest: This is made up of animal tissues, such as poultry, beef, pork, horse, etc., that have been mixed together, heated and broken down with a digestive enzyme imparting a distinct flavor, thus giving it the term animal digest. Many pet food companies use animal digest to increase the palatability of their dog foods. It can include 4D meats (dead, dying, diseased or disabled.) Poultry By-Products: This "can" include nonrendered clean parts of slaughtered poultry such as heads, feet, and viscera, free of fecal content and foreign matter except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practices. Poultry By-Product Meal: This consists of ground, rendered, clean parts of slaughtered poultry, including necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidably in good processing practices. Can include 4D (dead, dying, diseased or disabled) poultry. Animal By-Products: This general term is meant to be for animal byproduct ingredients that don't fit any of the other categories. It is made of rendered meat without added hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure and stomach contents, except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. It can include any 4D (dead, dying, diseased or disabled) animal, roadkill, any pet or animal that has been euthanized. Beef Tallow: Many foods have begun to add tallow fat to their minimum daily requirement. Used in the production of candles, this fat is inexpensive and indigestible. Corn Gluten Meal: This is the dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and the seperation of the bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of corn starch or syrup or by emzymatic treatment of endosperm. Rice Gluten Meal: This is the dried residue of rice protein without starch or fat. Soybean Meal: Obtained by grinding the flakes that remain after the removal of most of the oil from soybeans by a solvent extraction process. Powdered Cellulose: This ingredient is purified, mechanically disintergrated cellulose. It's a white, odorless, tasteless product prepared by processing alpha cellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant material. Powdered cellulose is used as a bulking agent in pet foods. Sugar Foods By-Products: This ingredient is created by grinding and mixing inedible portions derived from the preparation and packaging of sugar-based food products such as candy, dry-packed drinks, dried gelatin mixes and similar food products that are largely composed of sugar. The Rendering Process A lot of the by-products created by rendering plants ends up in commercial pet food. And why it is SO important to know what by-products are and how to read your pet's food label! Renderers accept the waste and leftovers, this includes animals picked up by the dead stock removal companies, dead zoo animals, roadkill too large to be buried at the side of the road; restaurant and grocery store garbage and even euthanized dogs and cats. Slaughterhouses also provide renderers with the leftovers from slaughtered animals not fit for human consumption. Before these animal parts and by-products used for pet food are shipped from the slaughterhouse to the rendering plant, the by-product is "denatured." This means that crude carbolic acid, cresylic disinfectant or citronella is sprayed on the product. In the case of a whole beef or swine carcass that has been condemned, the denaturing product is injected into the entire carcass. If the meat inspectors condemn only parts of an animal, USDA requires that "before an approved denaturing agent is applied, the product must be freely slashed so that pieces are less than 4 inches in diameter. This allows the denaturant to contact all parts of the product." The Most Common Preservatives In Pet Foods A major complicating factor when reading labels is that the ingredients are unfamiliar to most. We certainly would not feed our pet a product that listed "insecticide" on the label, but that is exactly what we are buying if the food and or treat contains Ethoxyquin, for example. Read labels carefully to avoid foods and treats with the following chemical preservatives. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): This is a chemical preservative and antioxidant that, while generally regarded as safe in very low concentrations, may cause allergic reactions and affect your pet's liver and kidneys. Look into the Go! Natural recall and read what the elivated levels of BHA can possibly do. BHT (butylated hydroxytolene): Although this preservative and antioxidant is believed to be generally safe, it may cause liver and kidney problems. Ethoxyquin: Depending on the dosage, this preservative, rubber hardener, insecticide and pesticide may cause cancer. Ethylenediamine This solvent, urinary acidifier and colon promoter can irritate the skin and mucus membranes and may cause asthmatic reactions and allergic skin rashes. Sodium Metabisulphite: Another chemical preservative, sodium metabisulphite has caused weakness, loss of consciousness, difficulty swallowing and brain damage in people. Sugar, Sorbitol, Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol: These preservatives and sweetners may contribute to diabetes and obesity. Almost every treat or semi moist pet food has one or more of the above chemical preservatives. I went to my local grocery store, and why this page didn't make it up until 1:45, and these are just some of the treats and foods I found. Food Preservative Treat Preservative Purina Mainstay BHA Pedigree Dentabobes BHA & BHT Purina Grrravy BHA Pedigree Breath Busters BHA & BHT Purina Kibbles & Chunks BHA Purina Cheweez BHA Purina Come & Get It BHA Purina Beggin Strips BHA Purina Alpo BHA Purina Chewrific BHA Purina Dog Chow L&R BHA Purina/Alpo Liv A Snaps BHA Pedigree Lg Crunchy Bites BHA & BHT Purina/Alpo Variety Snaps BHA Pedigree Sm Crunchy Bites BHA & BHT Purina/Alpo Beefy Ribbet Treats BHA Pedigree Meaty Chunks W/ Rice BHA & BHT MilkBone Denta Snacks Propylene glycol Gravy Train BHA MilkBone Mar-O Snacks BHT & BHA Kibbles & Bits BHA MilkBone Original W/ real bone marrow BHA & BHT Purina Moist & Meaty Ethoxyquin Meaty Bones BHA Purina Butchers Block Ethoxyquin Scooby Snacks BHA Kibbles & Bits Homestyle BHA & Propylene Glycol T Bonz BHA Pedigree Weight Loss Step I BHA & BHT Better Than Ears Propylene Glycol Pedigree Weight Maintenance BHA & BHT Denta Greens Propylene Glycol Pedigree Healthy Maturity BHA & BHT Meaty Bone-Chew Lotta BHA Bil-Jac Senior BHA Canine Carry Outs BHA Bil-Jac Reduced Fat BHA Nutro Natural Choice Treats Propylene Glycol Bil-Jac Select BHA Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Rice Sticks Propylene Glycol Bil-Jac Puppy BHA Bil-Jac Gooberlicious Propylene Glycol & BHA Bil-Jac Pisa Pizza Propylene Glycol & BHA Bil-Jac Liver Treats Propylene Glycol & BHA Canine Combos Propylene Glycol & BHA & Sorbitol Bil Jac Large Biscuits BHA Nature's Receipe Training Treats Propylene Glycol & BHA Solid Gold Dragon's Teeth Xylitol Solid Gold Dragonettes Xylitol AKC Training Treats Propylene Glycol & Beef Tallow Science Diet Training Treats Propylene Glycol & Ethoxyquin Science Diet Jerky Plus BHA & Ethoxyquin Meaty Bone Denta-Delicious BHA & yellow #5 Pedigree Dental Stix Cellulose Powder Meaty Treats Weenie Wraps Propylene Glycol, BHA, red #40, yellow #6 & blue #2 Meaty Treats Steak Nite Propylene Glycol, BHA & red #40 Purina Busy Bones BHA & BHT Nut-tastics Propylene Glycol & BHA Steak House Strips Propylene Glycol & BHA Sir Loins Propylene Glycol Better Than Bones Propylene Glycol Our Feline Friends Deserve Healthy Food Too! Cats are true carnivores unlike the dog which is an omnivore. The most important ingredient in a cat's diet is protein. To have a happy healthy cat, you do NOT want to feed anything less than a meat based diet. Flint River Ranch guarantees a protein analysis of not less than 32%. Flint River Ranch has chicken meal as the first ingredient, lamb meal number three and fish meal number eight. Now look at these grocery store brands and compare the number of byproducts and chemical preservatives in both food and treats! Cat Food By-Products Chemical Preservatives 9 Lives Grilled Tuna & Eggs #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal & animal digest BHA 9 Lives Beef, Turkey & Liver #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal & animal digest BHA Purina Deli Cat #1 ingredient brewer's rice & beef tallow Purina Tender Vittles all Flavors corn gluten meal, beef tallow BHA Purina Happy Cat corn gluten meal & beef tallow BHA Purina Kit & Kaboodles w/ Stuffed Morsels & Crunchy Bites #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, beef tallow & animal digest Purina Kitten Chow corn gluten meal & beef tallow Purina Cat Chow Complete corn gluten meal, beef tallow & animal digest Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula #1 ingredient corn meal, corn gluten meal, beef tallow & animal digest Purina Friskies Special Diet #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal BHA & Ethoxyquin Purina Dental Diet #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal BHA & Ethoxyquin Purina Ocean Fish #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, beef tallow & animal digest Purina Friskies Chef's Blend #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, beef tallow & animal digest Purina Friskies Gourmet #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, beef tallow & animal digest Whiskas Catch Of The Day #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten BHA & BHT Whiskas Original Recipe #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten BHA & BHT Meow Mix Hairball Control corn gluten meal, powdered cellu;ose, beef tallow & animal digest Meow Mix Original #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal & beef tallow Sophista Cat Urinary Health #1 ingredient corn gluten meal BHA Sophista Cat Blended Mix #1 ingredient ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal Sophista Cat Indoor #1 ingredient ground yellow corn & corn gluten meal Cat Treat Preservative M&C Treat Ums BHA Pounce Tartar & Plaque Control BHA Pounce Carribbean Catch BHA Pounce Seafood Medley BHA Pounce Shake It Up Chicken BHA Pounce Purr-fections All Flavors BHA Purina Whisker Lickins All Flavors Ethoxyquin Purina Friskies Tender Turkey BHA Purina Friskies Hairball Remedy BHA Purina Friskies Crunchy Tuna & Salmon Ethoxyquin Whiskas Temptations All Flavors BHA & BHT M&C Cranberry Treats BHA Sophista Cat Treats All Flavors BHA Meow-A-Roni BHA & BHT I wish I had the time to go through ALL the foods and treats at places like PetsMart and Petco. However, I found enough evidence to prove to myself that companies still use these chemical preservatives. If these same companies and many more just like them still use chemical preservatives and artifical flavors and colors - I truly shudder to think of the quality of the rest of their ingredients they are using in their foods. Definitely something to think about the next time you just grab that bag of food or box of treats!!! The Difference Simply Put Pick-Me-Up-Anywhere Brands: You can find these brand names just about anywhere. A piece on 6o Minutes describes how these widely commercialized foods garnish their meats: They select from 4D categories - dead, dying, diseased or decaying. In addition, much of the fat in these brands is indigestible, requiring more bulk feeding to meet daily nutritional requirements. Premium Labels: These are found in specialty pet stores and animal hospitals, premium foods orginated to improve the quality of ingredients offered to pets. The grade of meat is up, and the food contains a higher quality of usable fats. All Natural/Holistic Foods: The word holistic translates into "human grade everything": human grade meats, often hormone and steroid free, digestible fats, and a grain carbohydrate mix of the highest standard. Though this type of pet food often costs more and can be a challenge to find, it is calorie rich, requiring less bulk to meet the daily nutritional requirement. And theoretically, if you got really hungry.... Fetch It... Place Your Order! Place S.N.I.P. Orders Here! Corgi Loves' Doggie Driver's Licenses Now Available What Are By-Products & Chemical Preservatives What Makes FRR the Best?! Knowing What Not To Feed! Meats Vs. Meals Compare The Price Understanding Labels Special Sample Packages Puppy/Adult Kibble Larger Adult Dog Kibble Lamb/Millet/Rice Dog Kibble Trout & Potato Dog Kibble Senior & Mature Dog Kibble Senior Plus Dog Kibble Dry Water Dog Food Bones & Treats How To Choose The Right Food For Your Pet! Cat & Kitten Kibble Adult Lite Cat Kibble Hairball Management Formula Cat & Kitten Treats Stainless Steel Bowls Clean Up With Pet Force FRR Special Offers FRR Testimonials Meet Some Customers Important Facts, FRR News Letter Food Elimination Protocol Ear Disease/Infections Must Read Books On Nutrition! Become A Distributor! Feel free to ask questions! Breed Calendars & More Breed Books & Bookmarks Breed of the Month Links to Great Pet Services or Products! Other Web Rings To The Homepage If you are looking for a dedicated commitment to customer service ~ you have found the correct Independent Distributor. I give 200% to placing orders for anyone who wants to purchase Flint River Ranch products in a timely manner. I am always here to answer any questions and to serve you and your companions! SENIOR INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR #P289 Call, fax or order online 24 hours a day. FAX: 512-295-2189 Tel: 512-295-5244 You may order online, or off by email, phone or fax. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Cathy, Rainey & Gracie Pup This site is copyrigted TLR© 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. Do not take anything written or graphically off any part of this site. I have made graphics from all non-copyrighted pictures to my knowledge. References used on this page from: 8 Weeks To A Healthy Dog - Shawn Messonnier, DVM, Food Pets Die For - Ann N. Martin, Puppies For Dummies - Sarah Hodgson, Canine Nutrition What Every Owner, Breeder and Trainer Should Know - Lowell Ackerman, DVM. Everything within this site is the research and opinion of this Independent Distributor and not that of Flint River Ranch the company.