Pet Food Politics

Not that it is any of our business, but since everything about the first family seems to be fair game, the question of what they are going to feed their new puppy, Bo, is one that is making the rounds on the blog-o-sphere. I actually took a course in Food and Culture during my recent grad school days and wrote my paper on where Americans get their information about what to feed their dogs: from their vets, from the pet food store, from the breeder (or shelter) where they got the dog, or from other pet owners.

I put a survey in several local pet food stores and people were incredibly nice about completing it. I think I got about 50 responses in just a few days and while it is certainly NOT scientific, it does give you an idea of the zeitgeist of pet food politics.

It turns out, according to my data, that when it comes to nutrition information, pet owners pretty much rely on their veterinarians for advice. All of which sets up a nice little conflict of interest, in my opinion, because most vets sell prescription pet foods from which they derive a hefty percentage of their incomes. Not that vets are necessarily mercenary, but if it comes down to a choice between what they sell and what you can buy elsewhere, might they not steer you in their direction?

Anyway, one of the best authorities on the pet food battles is Marion Nestle, who writes a blog for the Atlantic. In fact, she addresses just this topic of what the Obamas should feed little Bo here. As you will see, the bigger issue for Nestle is not what they feed the puppy but regulating the pet food industry, which is not subject to the same regulations as the human food supply chain. We all know about the massive pet food recall a few years back that send many pet owners to their own refrigerators to feed their pets, but as Nestle writes, that may not be necessary.

We may never know what Bo Obama eats but I predict we will know when he decides to make a few foxholes in that beautiful vegetable garden they just planted!!