Gilles Vouillon claims that over 90% of pet food is actually bad for pets, and as a result he has been examining the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibre and extra water content found in the most-commonly sold pet food, reports French news source 20 Minutes.
Vouillon - who is a sports teacher by trade and owns his own dog, 15-year-old Wanda - claims that many ingredients found in pet food, such as wheat and corn, as well as added carbs, are not suitable for carnivores such as dogs and cats.
He uses a list of criteria to judge each brand, and gives each a mark out of 20, with 20 being the most nutritious and healthy for pets, and 1 being the least healthy.
Some brands also offer so much sugar and added carbohydrates, he claims, that it would be like a human eating nothing but “chocolate and coconut Bounty bars” at every meal.
This sort of food, when given to pets regularly, can cause diabetes, obesity, and inflammation, he says.
Vouillon has amassed over 51,000 “Likes” on his public Facebook Page on the issue since January, and has now set up a private Facebook Group named “Beware Toxic Kibble (Alerte Croquettes Toxiques)”. His website, Alertes Croquettes, also offers a calculator for the public to use, to test their own brands.
He eventually intends to set up an association to lobby for clearer labelling on pet food packaging, and wants to increase awareness among the public, as well as fight for a change in the law.
“A couple of years ago I started getting more interested in food,” he explains, speaking to 20 Minutes. “And I wondered, what exactly is it that I’m feeding my own dog?”
Now, Vouillon makes his own dog food for Wanda at home, avoiding any excess carbs such as rice or pasta, and says others should do the same.
However, he advises that anyone who continues to buy pet food should read the labels carefully.
He explained: “You should not buy any pet food made primarily of cereal (wheat or corn), and it should not contain more than 20% carbohydrate or fat.”
