bloat, citric acid, and Canidae

[mmsimon]

When doing my research again on bloat, I was disappointed to discover that Canidae has citric acid in it as this is a risk factor for bloat. Worst of all, I was moistening the food with water as per the breeders recommendations. I wonder why she recommended this. She seems to be of the "old ways." Did people once upon a time believe that moistening helped?

What do those of you who use canidae think of this? I understand the risk is there if you feed citric acid and that it is further worsened if you moisten the food. Is that right? is it worth the slight risk? Do the positive factors of the food outweigh the negative? Thanks

 

[gmacleod]

There is nothing wrong with citric acid. It, in itself, is not a risk factor for anything at all. It is a perfectly good, naturally occuring preservative. BUT: you can't premoisten foods preserved with it. Because premoistening it creates an increased risk of bloat.

Is it clear enough? You've written twice there that you believe there is something wrong with citric acid in a food and that the risk is made worse by moistening it. That is incorrect. There is absolutely no known risk of anything associated with citric acid. Only with soaking foods preserved with it. Don't soak it and there is no problem.

With that out of the way:

Canidae actually doesn't have citric acid in it. We think. They're using ascorbic acid instead. Here is a previous thread that which should explain all: http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67983
If you've any residual concerns though, I'd suggest emailing the company to ask.

As to the why, a lot of people pre-moisten foods for young puppies because they don't always recognise kibble well as food. Soaking it can help to make it a bit more appealing. It isn't actually a requirement though. If your puppy will eat the food dry, then it's fine to let him.

 

[mmsimon]

I have visited a couple of websites that said the citric acid itself is a risk factor and adding water worsens the matter. I guess they must be incorrect then?

Anyway, if Canidae has indeed removed it from their food that is great but I bought a bag the other day and it is listed on there. This is 1 year from the time they said they would not be putting it in their food any more (thanks for that link by the way). How long can it take to get rid of old stock?

 

[gmacleod]

Do you know what research they were basing that on? If it is the Purdue research, then they've read it wrong (neither the initial study nor the subsequent ones found anything of the kind - and there's links to the research in the sticky thread about bloat at the top of this forum). But if it's some other research entirely, then it's perfectly possible that they're right. It would be nice to know though.

No idea how long it can take to get rid of old stock... but most kibble is good for about 18 months, so I guess it is possible. Nothing to stop you emailing the company to ask about it though

 

[Lucymom]

This is all very interesting. My bag as well still says citric acid and we bought it about a month ago...

 

[alyssakitz]

I just checked my bag (purchased about 2 weeks ago). It says Citric Acid was used to "preserve" the Chicken Fat, but does not list it seperately as an ingredient. I have been using Canidae for the past couple weeks for Zoe and have had great success. No bloat or anything! I don't moisten it though.

 

[gmacleod]

No volunteers to email them and ask? As customers (bearing in mind that that food is not even sold in the UK) you've a better chance of getting a considered response than I have

 

[Mollie_T]

Here is a list of the ingredients from their website (I don't even see citric acid listed anymore):

Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Lamb Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Herring Meal, Flax Seed, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Chicken, Lecithin, Monocalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Linoleic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Inulin (from Chicory root), Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (source of B2), Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, D-Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Papaya, Vitamin B12 Supplement

 

[Lucymom]

I have sent them an email to see why there is still a discrepancy between their bags and the website. I'll let everyone know if I get a response.

 

[gmacleod]

Thanks I know they said it would take some time for the bags to be updated. But that was quite a while ago now... It will be interesting to see what the current state of play is.