March 31, 2007 --

With the massive pet food recall, many pet owners are nervous about buying pet food these days. So what's a pet shopper to do? There's no quick fix or short answer — but veterinarians and animal experts say reading labels is a good start. Here's the recommendations for understanding what those ingredients on pet food labels means courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration and pet health experts.

• Names have meaning. If animal ingredients are in the product name, that meat or fish must make up 95 percent of the food — unless the product is a "dinner," "platter," "entree" or "formula." Those foods only need to contain at least 25 percent of the title ingredient. Also, look out for foods that come "with" a flavor. Dog food "with beef" needs only contain 3 percent beef — and is not the same thing as "beef dog food."
• Foods labeled as "premium" or "gourmet" don't have to meet standards any higher than those for regular, cheap foods. And, as with your groceries, "natural" labels on pet food do not mean "organic" ingredients."
• Ingredients are listed in order by their weight.
• Foods should bear a manufacturer's name and address. Many include a phone number. Don't be afraid to call it.
• Meat and "meat meal" are not the same things. The "meal" can contain blood, hair, manure and stomach contents. If you're worried about what an ingredient listing means, consult the Association of American Feed Control Officials, which regulates animal foods.
• Read the content analysis, which covers the minimum percentages of fat, protein, fiber and moisture in the food.
• See whether the product was made to AAFCO profiles or met them through feeding tests. Such statements, which should be on the product, indicate whether the food satisfies your pet's nutritional needs.

And if you believe a commercial food has sickened your pet, call the FDA.

Be ready with information including the brand name and lot numbers for the food, the date you noticed the animal's illness, a list of symptoms, available medical reports and contact information for any vet who treated your pet.

For more details about the Menu Foods recall, call (866) 895-2708 or visit www.menufoods.com/recall.