‘Best By’ Dates on Pet Foods…Why It’s Important

A recent article posted on The Consumerist website provides a very good lesson that every pet owner should take notice of. The article explains the story of a pet owner who unknowingly purchased expired pet food from PetCo (3 years expired!) and her dog became very ill.

What happened to this pet owner can very easily happen to anyone - any where. How many times do you look at the expiration date on the foods and treats you purchase for your pet?

With pet foods and treats, usually on the side or back of the bag or can, you will find a 'Best by' date stamped on the product. Most pet food manufacturers that I have spoken with tell me that this date does NOT mean the pet food will expire - it means that the most optimal nutrition of the food or treat has expired.

Pet food shelf life is one of the questions I ask manufacturers and provide in Petsumer Report. It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The shelf life of dry dog food or cat food can vary from four months to three years. Canned or pouched dog food or cat food can vary from one to five years. Dog and cat treats usually have the same shelf life as dry food. The 'Best by' date provided on the pet food or treat does not tell you how old the product is. The 'Best by' date does not tell you when the food was manufactured. Again, it only tells you the date that particular pet food manufacturer determined the food will no longer provide optimal nutrition.

Optimal for your pet would be a pet food that is naturally preserved. However, the drawback of naturally preserved pet foods - the only drawback - is that they lose their nutritional value quickly. The challenge to pet owners is to find a food and treat that is very fresh.

Here's how you can make sure your pet is only eating fresh food - providing the best that product offers. Make a phone call to the pet food manufacturer and ask them what the shelf life is for the dry food or the canned/pouched food. As an example - ABC Pet Food Company tells you the shelf life of Premium ABC Dry food is 18 months and the shelf life of Premium ABC Canned/Pouch food is 2 years. With that information, check the 'Best by' date on the pet food. Let's say the 'Best by' date on the dry dog food you are considering says June 2008. Knowing that ABC Pet Food Company told you 18 months was the shelf life, you would know the food was made in January 2007 (Shelf life 18 months minus from June 2008 equals Jan. 2007). If 'today' is October 20, 2007 - you would know this pet food is now 10 months old.

With a canned pet food, ABC Pet Food 'Best by' date is also June 2008. This tells you that this can of pet food was made in June 2006 (Shelf life 2 years minus from June 2008 equals June 2006). Thus the canned product would be 14 months old in October 2007.

Using my above example, I would not purchase a pet food that is already ten months old. Ideally, a dry pet food should be less than four months old when you purchase it - and you should use the food within two months. Again, with a naturally preserved pet food, the nutritional value begins to deteriorate quickly. The fresher the food - the better. Try to purchase and use the food within six months of manufacturing. Store your pet's food in a air tight container, in a dark, cool pantry. With canned pet foods, the quality of nutrition is protected by the canning process. Any unused portion of the can must be covered, stored in the refrigerator, and used within a couple of days.

Call the manufacturer of your pet's food and ask the shelf life of dry and canned foods. It is a small chore, but it's very important. You want what you pay for and your pet deserves the best nutrition. Get yourself into the habit of looking at the 'Best by' date BEFORE you purchase the food or treat. This little effort will not only provide your pet with better nutrition, but it could also save you from an experience of a sick pet.

About the Author, Susan Thixton:

Before you purchase another bag or can of pet food, learn more of Susan's secrets to healthy pet foods. Also, register for the Truth About Pet Food free newsletter. shelf life, pet food, dog food, cat food. Glyconutrition.