Frequently Asked Questions

I've heard reports that Nutro products contain potentially harmful levels of copper and zinc. Is this true?

Quality Assurance Frequently Asked Questions.
How do you read the code date on the treats?
How do you read the canned food code dates?
How do you read the pouch food code dates?
How long is canned and pouch food good?
How do you read the code date on the biscuits?
When will I receive information on the Frequent Buyer Program?
What are the natural flavors in your food?
How is your food cooked?
What is the shelf life of your kibble?
Does your food contain chemical preservatives?

I've heard reports that Nutro products contain
potentially harmful levels of copper and zinc. Is this true?

NUTRO™ products are safe and conform to the standards set by the FDA, USDA and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). The claims regarding the safety of Nutro pet food in a recent report posted on the Pet Food Product Safety Alliance website are unfounded.

In order for a food to provide all the essential nutrition for a pet, it must exceed the minimum requirements for all essential nutrients. AAFCO has established Nutrient Profiles which identify these minimum dietary levels for all essential nutrients in canine pet food products.

Specifically, these guidelines indicate that pet foods formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of dogs contain no less than 120 mg/kg dry matter and no more than 1,000 mg/kg dry matter of zinc in order to ensure that the requirements for zinc in dogs are met. Based on these guidelines, the 260- 400 mg/kg diet levels of Zinc found in Nutro™ Natural Choice Chicken, Meal, Rice and Oatmeal Formula (which converts to approximately 288-444 mg/kg dry matter) are well within AAFCO recommended levels. Like zinc, levels of copper in Nutro are necessarily above the minimum AAFCO requirements and do not exceed maximum requirements; they are well within recommended levels.

The report is correct in stating that there is a small minority of dogs that are sensitive to copper. These dogs are relatively few and need to be carefully managed with the assistance of a Veterinarian. This would be the same as with any dog that has special, specific needs which make it unique from the general canine population. Furthermore, copper is a critical factor in a dog's antioxidant defense system and so it would not be prudent to restrict copper in the general population, as that would mean that a large group of dogs would not receive their required levels.

In addition to meeting a dog's nutritional requirements, many Nutro™ products incorporate the scientific knowledge of the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition which has researched the role of key nutrients in delivering optimal skin and coat health and consequently have levels of zinc, copper and other nutrients that are higher than industry minimums. These nutrients serve as key drivers in maintaining skin and coat health and help to make Nutro™ products nutritionally sound.

Our products are safe and conform to the standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Nutro™ products undergo rigorous quality assurance testing beginning with raw ingredients and ending with testing finished products. This includes testing to confirm that no melamine, mold toxins, or pathogenic bacteria are detected in any Nutro™ pet foods.

How do you read the code date on the treats?

Our treats have a code date stamped on the bottom of the package. It is the “manufactured on” date. The first number is the last digit of the year the treats were made. The next three digits are the day of the year in Julian code. The remaining digits are plant information.

For example: 0167000000 means these treats were made in 2000, on the 167th day (June 15).

If stored properly, sealed treats stay fresh for approximately 14 months.

How do you read the canned food code dates?

A. Due to technical advances in materials the expiration dates for cans produced after March 31, 2004 will be three years from date of manufacture.

Here is an example of the coding:

1st Line:	BEST BY MMM DD YY
2nd Line:	Contains manufacturing information: i.e., plant, line and time

Where:	MMM =	Month of Production
	DD =	Day of Production
	YY =	Year of Production + 3

Example:
A can manufactured on May 31, 2004 would be coded: BEST BY MAY 31 07

Please note that the older can codes will still be on store shelves for some time, and will be coded as in "B." below.

B. Cans manufactured before March 31, 2004 will have a code date printed on them that is 2 years from the date of manufacture. The code will also be printed on the case.
Here is an example of the coding:

1st Line:	PPP(b)(b)(b) Best By
2nd Line:	DDMMMYY(b)TTTTF(L)
Case Code:	DDMMMYY

Where:	P =	Product Code
	(b) =	Empty Space
	DD =	Day of Production
	MMM =	Month of Production
	YY =	Year of Production Plus 2
	TTTT =	Time of Production
	F =	Plant Code
	(L) =	Line Number

SAMPLE: Natural Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Dog Food made on September 1, 2000:
NDN Best By
01SEP02 TTTTF(L)

How do you read the pouch food code dates?

A. Due to technical advances in materials the expiration dates for pouches produced after March 31, 2004 will be two years from date of manufacture.

Here is an example of the coding:

1st Line:	BEST BY MMM DD YY
2nd Line:	Contains manufacturing information: i.e., plant, line and time

Where:	MMM =	Month of Production
	DD =	Day of Production
	YY =	Year of Production + 2

Example:
A can manufactured on May 31, 2004 would be coded: BEST BY MAY 31 06

How long is canned and pouch food good?

Since canned food is vacuum sealed, it stays fresh for many years. Unless the can has become damaged, the food will be good for at least three years. Pouches are good for two years from date of manufacture.

How do you read the code date on the biscuits?

The code can be found on the top flap of our biscuits. This is the "Best By" code dating. The code will appear like the following example:
J123USEBY04AUG03
J = Plant Designation
1 = Packaging Line
23 = Hour of Production (24-hour clock)
04AUG03 = Use by Date: August 4, 2003

When will I receive information on the Frequent Buyer Program?

It takes approximately 6 - 8 weeks to receive your booklet with $20 worth of coupons and your enrollment card. Simply fill out the enrollment card and take it to your pet specialty retailer. Your retailer will keep the card in-store and will track your purchases toward free product.

What are the natural flavors in your food?

This is part of our formula and is proprietary information.

How is your food cooked?

We extrude all our kibble, which is similar to a baking process.

What is the shelf life of your kibble?

We have perfected our system of naturally preserving our foods. Under the correct conditions, our food stays fresh for approximately 14 month. Extreme temperatures, improper storage, and other factors can effect the freshness.

Does your food contain chemical preservatives?

No, our foods are naturally preserved with Vitamin E. We never use chemicals like BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propyl gallate or sodium hexametaphosphate.