How to choose a pet food

Foods that leave the same factory carry different names

For pet food, the company that owns the brand and the factory that actually makes the product are often not the same. One plant produces for many brands under contract — what the industry calls OEM manufacture.

So “is this brand trustworthy?” is only half a question. Who actually made this product is what tells you whether a problem at a plant reaches the bag in your cupboard.

Usefully, the law requires this to be printed. Under the enforcement rules of the 「사료관리법」 (Feed Control Act), the bag must carry the name and address of the manufacturer as registered, and where a product is contract-made and sold under someone else’s brand, the distributor-seller (유통전문판매업체) must be named separately. Two companies on the bag means contract manufacture.

Source · 사료관리법 시행규칙 [별표 4] 용기 및 포장에의 표시사항

Five things to check on the back of the bag

Who makes what

One plant turns out several brands. Only the front of the bag differs.

Open a brand to see its published analyses and the other brands from the same manufacturer.

Other brands

Manufacturers holding a single brand, or not yet confirmed.