it was on their package.....lol.....(duh!)

http://phantomfoods.tripod.com

Well. Coming from a person with a food and nutrition degree (food service director for 9 years) and a Controller at a meat wholesale provider I would not be as interested in radiation as I would be the amount of chemicals, antibiotics and hormones pumped into the livestock them selves. I know the research is available linking that to probably far more cancer then radiating meat, and it has been ongoing for a really long time. I have seen such example in the animals that were in process and that was far before radiating was done to control ecolloi and salmonella and other illnesses humans get. I worked for Mom and Pop meat wholesale and also very large corporations in the field and the USDA conducts the same inspections on big as small. They all have the same standards when it is for human consumption…now…. when it is not for human consumption, the standards are not the same. I have seen inspectors tag a ton of meat at a time. Where do you think that meat ends up going? Not in a dumpster some where...Depending on the nature of the tag it can be sold to rendering or animal food manufactures or it has to be denatured...My personal view is that these places claim that the food is free range (thus not exposed to antibiotics, chemicals or hormones) to get more money for their product. You have NO way of knowing if a product is organic or free range or dropped on the floor or half rotten if you see it in a case all processed. There is no way to tell. Now…if Mom and pop have their own farm. Raise and slaughter their own livestock and make up their own batch of food. I would be skeptical. Just me mind you. But I have been there and I know what happens…and yes. I still eat meat. The processing plant would not be financially feasible for mom and pop…I would have to see the operation with my own eyes. Look at Tyson for example. They are huge. But they don’t raise and slaughter and process in the same areas. I was invited to a Tyson plant in AK and decided on the films instead since I don’t fly…and had other issues at home at the time. But. The end result is proof in labeling. We cannot control it in Human food and what makes you think it is on the up in up with animal food…I just don’t buy it. I think it is a marketing ploy to get animal owners to empty their pockets in an attempt to please their pets. The businesses are soaking you for all they can get. If you believed the clams then you would be eating worse food then the dogs. And I just don’t buy that concept. I know no inspection system is fool proof. That is why there are allowances for bug debris, hair and dirt in inspection reports. But it is when the concentrations are higher then allowed. You can cut off rot and still be able to pass inspection…You have food that goes through fat tests to determine the fat/water/mass tests…do they do the same for dog food. And the findings? Are we as concerned with the end result or is it just ok to mention it is tested…do they have to label a product that contains soy…or do they lump those entire ingredient together with the vegetables and fruits. I would be interested in their food establishment number…all plants inspected have to have one. I am sorry if I am a wet blanket on this issue. I just hate to see people get duped…and to say one product is superior because of this and that is unfounded. It has to go by what they did to it to make it taste more appealing to the dog. That is the end result. And that usually comes in the cooking stage. So.Im my opinion…commercial raw foods and most of the other foods are just banking on the pet lovers to fork out untold amounts to feel better thinking they are doing all they can for the pet. In actuality it is claiming to have a system that is far better then the food we put in our own mouth and I just don’t buy it. Our USDA is one of the best systems in place in the world and these places claim to be better…I just don’t see how they can and turn a buck…just my opinion and 15 years in the business talking. I think the intent to go all out for our pets is a good thing. And doing any thing to keep our pets happy and healthy is my aim as well. I just didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday…

I totally agree with the loopholes in the system.  Great point.

I also agree that there are alot of places out to rip someone a new one.  You just have to go with whats right for you.  I chose this place because they do raise their own beef, slaughter it, and process it into their food.  They don't do just this though, and I guess thats how they make a living.  They are a regular slaughterhouse who processes meat much like my family does.  there is no radiation involved in those types of places because there is no need for it.  Meat in the stores is between 3 and 6 weeks old when you buy it 'fresh'.  You then take it home and freeze or cook it.  Slaughterhouse meat is frozen as soon as its cut, which is usually at about 10 days old.  There is no need to radiate it, if handled properly.  If people buy meat from the store and then make their own dog food with it, they are feeding radiation.

Also, there is no way to know if chemicles are being used unless you live on the farm I guess.  You really have to take their word for it or choose to look elsewhere.  As far as the veggies, they raise them themselves.  This is not a multi-million dollar corporation I am speaking about, its just a little shop.  It seems they found a way to utilize what they were already doing - slaughtering and gardening.  Again, you have to find what works best for you. 

I have seen some really pricy stuff on the market and I wouldn't buy it.  I understand the hesitency......I have it too.  So far, this place has worked well for me and my dogs and as long as the ingredients look good then I guess I'll keep using them.

I also feed offal from my fathers slaughterhouse when I am there to get it.  It can be gross, but the dogs love it....lol

Next time I am at the dog food place I'll ask them some more questions to see if I can find out more.  I'm not sure what to ask, but I'll think of something....lol