Actr1um Holistic?

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I came across a food at Wal Mart called Actr1um Holistic before I even got Abby. I ended up not opening it because I went to Orijen instead. But the ingredients look pretty decent. I cant seem to find any company website or anything on the bag to further research it. Has anyone heard of Actrium (Act1um) and who makes it. Here are the ingredients.:

Protein is 24% Fat 14%Omega 6 2.8% Omega 3 is 1.4%
Ingredients -Chicken Meal,Brown Rice,Oatmeal,Potatoes,Rye,Chicekn Fat ( Mixed with Tocopherols for Vit E) Chicken, Chicken Cartiledge (glucomsimne), Tomates,Slamon Meal,Salmon Oil, Dried Eggs, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp, Calcuim, Potassuim Cholride, Diacalcuim Phospate, Chicory Extract, Cranberries,Spinach,Broccoli,Sweet Potatoes,apples,Blueberries,Pears, Bananas, Vitamin A, E, C,Beta Carotene,Folic Acid,Vitamin B12,Probotitics,Yucca,Dried Rosemarry,Cinnamon,Chamomile,Dandelion,Paprika,Gar lic

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, it's made by the Wal-mart Corporation, which means the ingredients are outsourced and probably come from China. That makes me nervous. From what I have found on-line, it is apparently "manufactured" in Canada. There is nothing at all on the bag saying who manufacturers it? Phone number for questions?
As far as the ingredients go, it looks okay. A little heavy on the starches and light on the protein for my liking. I would want an assurance from the company that there is no ethoxyquin in it...this is a preservative primarily used for fish, which has been linked to serious health problems in dogs, and it is advised that any food that contains fish be verified for the absence of ethoxyquin. I would also personally want to know where the ingredients come from, where it is actually produced, and what kind of quality controls are in place.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Ya I thought it was odd that I couldnt find info on the bag. I must have missed the part about it being manufactured in Canada. (where is that info?) What makes me uncomfortable is the lack of info. Why the secrecy? Usually products have a company website "for addtl info"

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I want to know because I have kept the bag as backup incase I run out (I have to go to the next town to buy my dog food)...but if I cant get more info I will donate it to the shelter.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yeah, the lack of info is what bothers me, too.
I did a search for Actr1um and only got discussions in various pet forums where it was mentioned several times by your fellow Canucks that it is made in Canada. It was also mentioned that there is no website and that is a Wal-Mart house brand, like Ol' Roy.
So I guess it's actually "produced" by whatever company produces all their other house brand items, and you never can find a website for that kind of thing. What it boils down to is that the ingredients are purchased thru other companies, who import them from China, which is the kind of supply chain that caused the melamine recalls...Wal-mart contracts with another company to make a dog food with the Walmart label on it. This other company has contracts with suppliers who purchase the actual ingredients.
The quality control is absent. Wal-mart has no real way of knowing what's in the food or where it comes from.
It's the same with a lot of what is called "private label" products. For example, you've seen products in a beauty salon that have the Salon's name on the labels..eye shadows, face cream, that kind of thing. There is probably a salon on the other side of the country that has that same exact product from the same exact manufacturer, with their label on it. The company that sells it to both beauty salons purchases the ingredients from someone else, who maybe gets it from China. The lady who tells you about the wonderful benefits of the cream has no idea where it really comes from, other than the salesman she orders it from.
This is the real downside to "global trade"... the companies who actually assemble the food buy the ingredients from whoever is cheapest...which is always going to be China or another foreign source. These countries don't have the same kinds of laws and safeguards in place regarding the quality or contents of these ingredients. Sometimes, as with Dogswell products, the actual quality control testing and assembly is done here, and there are people who can answer questuions and verify information. But with Wal-mart? No way.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

off to the shelter it goes...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Don't feel bad. I have an unopened 15 lb bag of Fromm's Salmon a la Veg that I bought a few days before JD's specialist recommended he go on Orijen. Any Chicago area members who want to come get it?

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

The closest shelter would love to have it. Ours is always looking for donations.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm putting it in the car right now! Thanks for the great idea.

[Lee Seidman]

We can not get Lexi to eat Kibble, I tried them all and now keep trying Orijen because I believe it is the best available in the market place. We mix with chicken breast, pork chops, hamburger and she gets a little, but we throw out as much as she eats......we are now trying home made satin balls, seems to help a little..any ideas?

[03pilqobzlvp7]

Is it just me, or does it sound really gross that there is more chicken FAT than chicken? Yeah, I know chicken meal is the first ingredient...but still.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yeah, I didn't like the chicken fat as the 6th ingredient, either.