Leading meat producer Farmer’s Choice Ltd. has recorded a 30 percent increase in demand for their pre-cooked pet foods, following major concerns and fears of aflatoxin-contaminated pet food in the market.
This comes at a time when most Kenyans raised concerns over the types of contaminated pet foods flooding the market. This has also seen an increase in the purchase of Farmer’s Choice pet food brands Team and Beef which are available in all retail outlets, and most pet food stores that provide pets a balanced combination of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.
Commenting on the current aflatoxin fears in pet food, the Company’s Managing Director Mr. Jim Taylor, confirmed that the company’s feed mills are aflatoxin free having gone through several tests focused on quality feeds for animal health, attributing to a surge in demand.
“We have employed the use of a Neogen® Corporation’s Reveal Q+ for all Aflatoxin analysis. This world-renowned brand in food and animal safety technology is intended for the quantitative testing of aflatoxin in grains, and grain products. Besides aflatoxins, we also test for other mycotoxins i.e. fumonisin, zearalenone, and DON, as these too can impact negatively on animal health.” Mr. Jim Talyor,
Managing Director Farmer’s Choice said. “We appreciate the sensitivity of pets, particularly to aflatoxins, and thus through our internal Quality Controls, ensure that these standards are never compromised, therefore guaranteeing the safety and quality of all maize used in our pet food.” Mr. Taylor added.
Farmer’s Choice currently sells its range of pet food products to pet companies such as G4S, Securex, and major retail outlets.