Corn and the myths surrounding this ingredient

The Myth

Corn along with some other plant based ingredients are "filler" that shouldn't be included in a pet's diet because it is poorly digested and can cause allergies.

The Facts - Corn is an excellent source of many nutrients

- "Fillers" may be defined as ingredients with little or no nutritional value.  Based on this description corn is not a filler

-Corn provides a good source of carbohydrates, protein and essential fatty acids for dogs and cats

​-Corn is found in many forms, all of which can contribute to nutritious diets.  Corn gluten meal contains 60-70% protein and is an excellent souce of essential fatty acids.  Whole corn or corn meal provides highly digestible carbohydrates as an energy source.

-Corn is a good source of Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid required by both dogs and cats. 

-It also contains an abundant amounts of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene.

The Facts - Corn gluten meal is highly digestible

-Corn gluten meal is easy to digest, making its nutrients readily available to your pet.

-Corn gluten meal contains many essential amino acids, so when it is properly combined with other protein sources, it can contribute to highly digestible and nutritious diets.

The Facts - Corn is not a common allergen

-Dogs and cats can develop allergies to any protein.  It is estimated that only 10% of allergic skin conditions are caused by food, they are more often suspected to be caused by the environment.

-Corn does not appear on the list of most common food allergies in dogs and cats.

-The most common food allergies in dogs are beef, dairy, wheat, followed by lamb, egg, chicken and soy.

-The most common food allergies in cats are beef, dairy and fish.

The Facts - Corn is a high quality ingredient

-The quality of corn in pet foods can vary greatly

-There are five grades of corn quality according to the USDA; grades 1 and 2 are traditionally used in human food products.

-For example; Purina's standard for corn is grade 1 or 2

Nutrients vs. Ingredients

Remember it is not always about the ingredient it is about the nutrients that ingredient has to offer.  Corn has a great amount of nutrient value and can be a great addition if a good grade has been used.  Corn is valuable when paired with other nutrient dense ingredients.