Bacteriophages - Making Pet Food Clean & Safe

­Furchild now uses Phage Technology, a safe, holistic, and effective way to kill pathogenic (bad) bacteria without also killing beneficial bacteria.

It makes our raw pet food even safer for humans and all pets. Horray!

Contamination of pet food with pathogens can be of concern for pet parents and veterinarians alike. While contamination can occur in all forms of pet food - kibble, canned and fresh pet foods, the fresh pet food category is constantly targeted for being 'risky' despite the fact that the majority of recalls are processed and dry pet foods, not raw pet foods! You may also be surprised to know the contamination of pet food is mainly a concern for human family members, not our pets.

As a result of the fresh pet foods vs. dry foods misunderstanding, some pet parents and veterinarians are passing up the chance to feed the best quality pet food: fresh, balanced, species-appropriate nutrition which is a real shame.

Well, Furchild is changing that with Phages!

This is very exciting news! As of November 2017, Furchild is using a revolutionary technology called, 'Bacteriophage (Phage) technology'. It's a natural way of significantly reducing the chances of bad bacteria in fresh pet food and is transforming a lot of the misconceptions about fresh pet food.

The great thing about Phages is that they are very effective in killing specific bacteria, potentially harmful bacteria. Furchild uses three specific Phages to target Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli and all of their harmful strains!

Insert a sigh of relief for deeply concerned pet parents and veterinarians.

The Phages used in making our poultry pet meals are harmless to humans, animals, and plants. They are all-natural, non-toxic, safe, and effective means for significantly reducing or eliminating disease-causing bacteria that are sometimes present in foods or in food processing environments.

In case you are wondering, Phages do not affect the taste, appearance, or smell of our meals, and they do not alter our Organic and Halal certifications. Furthermore, the FDA for applications in the pet food and human industry approves Phages. They are currently used in the human food manufacturing industry and only a select few fresh pet food manufacturers are using this level of technology. Furchild is proud to be one of them!

For those interested, here's some background information on Bacteriophages.

They are one of the oldest known organisms on this planet, approximately three billion years ago. They are the most ubiquitous organisms on Earth, with their numbers estimated to be in the 10 to the 30th and 10 to the 32 ranges. That's a gigantic amount of phages! Phages are naturally occurring and are commonly found almost everywhere, including in the water we drink, foods we eat, they are in our soil and ocean environments.

Phages vs Antibiotics

The easiest way to understand how Phages work is to compare it with the role of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria and/or slow the growth of bacteria, but they are not specific and target many different types of bacteria, good and bad bacteria. Essentially antibiotics kill or prevent the growth of all bacteria.

Some pet food companies use technologies similar to this: irradiation, high-pressure processing (HPP), and chlorine washes. These methods affect the populations of good bacteria and bad bacteria, making the food completely sterile.

Bacteriophages are very different due to the reason that they are specific and natural. Phages only kill targeted bacteria, which makes our meals safer for humans and pets and at the same time preserving the nutritional properties of our ingredients. It's a win-win!

So, why is this so important?

As more research and studies are conducted, we are realizing that good bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining gut health and overall pet health and vitality. Humans and our pets do not want to remove the good bacteria / good microbes from our systems that are very beneficial for our overall health. As an example, just think of the benefits and role of Probiotics in our pets’ bodies. So the fact that Phages only impact potentially bad bacteria and not the good bacteria is 'pawsome' news!

When are pathogens a potential risk to our pets?

Dogs and cats have very resilient digestive tracts and are built to handle bacterial loads from foods that would otherwise cause illness to humans. Dogs and cats’ stomachs are very acidic, with a pH range of 1 to 2.5 and they produce bile, which is both anti-parasitic and anti-pathogenic. So if something potentially harmful is consumed, with their natural defense mechanisms the risk factor is much less in comparison to humans. That being said, pets with special compromised immune systems, cancer, or pets that are very young or old may not have as strong and effective natural defense mechanisms as healthy pets. So the addition of Bacteriophages gives pet parents extra peace of mind knowing that any risk of pathogens is further and significantly reduced.

Do you want to learn more about this groundbreaking technology?

Watch Dr Karen Becker, a renowned integrated Veterinarian interview Dr Sandro, an internationally recognized expert in Phage Technology. It's fascinating stuff!

Video: Mercola Pets

Every step of the process matters!

In regards to controlling bacteria and minimizing risk, other than Phage Technology, Furchild uses the strictest standards and food safety protocols. For us, the control of bacteria begins at the farm, and our kitchen is HACCP certified. Our standards are the same as any other commercial kitchen producing human food.

Furthermore, we hand select our providers and we constantly maintain communication throughout the ingredients lifecycle to ensure that they are transported and handled correctly. Our meats and poultry are sourced internationally only from reputable farms and suppliers. None of our meats and poultry is sourced from local abattoirs or butchers.

All of our ingredients are inspected and approved under DM regulations for restaurants and institutions throughout Dubai. Knowing that all of our ingredients are of the highest quality and held to the highest standards in manufacturing, greatly reduces the risk of pathogen contamination.

Our commitment to quality.

Furchild is fully committed to making the best quality, fresh dog and cat food using the most advanced technologies and experts in the pet food industry. The decision to incorporate Bacteriophages in the manufacturing process of some of our meals, will position Furchild in a new category for veterinarian professionals and concerned pet parents. Now they can feed their pets and patients with extra peace of mind, knowing that Furchild meals are not only a superior form of nutrition, but are safe for their pets and humans.

Now, what are you waiting for? It's time to feed your pet the best quality pet food available today!

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