Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.Dr. Aldrich is president of Pet Food & Ingredient Technology Inc. He is also the author of Petfood Industry magazine's monthly column, "Ingredient Issues."From the Author - Page 5Ingredients and substances to avoidClean label pet food: Is there any practical concern about arsenic in dog and cat foods?The measured presence of arsenic in pet foods does not equate to toxicity for this naturally occurring earth element.MineralsClean label pet food: Are reports of heavy metals reliable?Non-nutritional mineral levels in pet foods are not likely an issue.Grains and StarchesSo what is 'right' about corn in pet diets?Corn has many critics, but there are some real positives to this classic pet food ingredient.Grains and StarchesGrain-free dog food alert: Many questions still to answerThe recent dilated cardiomyopathy webinar, hosted by Petfood Industry, prompted great questions regarding grain-free diets for dogs.Fibers and LegumesDon't panic yet about peas and potatoes in dog food dietsThere is likely more to the canine dilated cardiomyopathy story than the current focus on only grain-free pet foods would suggest.Fibers and LegumesLegume seed oligosaccharides: How much is just right in dog and cat diets?Legume seed oligosaccharides need to be limited in pet diets to avoid issues with digestion and elimination.Pet Food IngredientsLamb meal: Once novel, now a more mainstream commodity in pet foodThe use of lamb meal has gone from novel to everyday, but it remains a staple in the protein options for dog and cat diets when pet owners are looking for alternatives.ProteinsChicken meal: Is there anything new with this ingredient’s use in pet food?A staple in pet food chicken meal has undergone modest changes to its definition and composition in the past 15 years, but challenges remain.Fibers and LegumesSoybean meal: A quality ingredient with a lot of criticsDespite claims to the contrary, soybean meal remains a consistent, quality, sustainable and nutritious part of value-minded pet foods.ProteinsFish meal: Supply, preservation biggest challenges for dog and cat dietsFish meal remains a high-quality source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, but supply and preservation challenges may force pet food to be more pragmatic in their choices.Grains and StarchesRice: longstanding staple for calories in dog and cat dietsRice has been a staple in pet food diets for decades and despite some minor controversies remains a high-quality supply of calories.Processing Functional IngredientsAgar-agar: gelling agent option for canned dog and cat foodsAgar-agar may be a good replacement for gelling in canned pet foods and other pet applicationsPrevious PagePage 5 of 18Next Page