Clarisi promised viewers that he would try the dog food if his video got 15,000 likes. Upon posting, his video garnered 2.5 million likes: “I knew I had to try,” he told BuzzFeed News.
“The dog food tasted very dry. Needed so much water after eating,” Clarisi said in an email to BuzzFeed News. “Tastes like little bits of dirt and I definitely don’t think it was worth it. Even though it has a lot of protein, I would take a steak or protein powder.”
IN This Video, he adds, “It’s for the benefit” when he eats Kibbles ‘n Bits. After grimacing and gagging as he chews on the product, he tells followers, “I promise you guys, it’s not worth it.”
So, before you head to your local PetSmart store and consider trying this approach on your own, here’s what you need to know about eating dog food, the actual amount of protein per serving, the possibility of foodborne illness, and what actually means “for human” label. keep in mind. Experts told BuzzFeed News that just because your pets eat it doesn’t mean you should.
What is included in dog food?
Although the FDA requires that all Pet food must be safe for animals.Sanitary-produced and free of harmful substances, Melissa Majumdar, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told BuzzFeed News that dog food is not subject to the same rules and regulations as human food. As a result, dog foods typically have label for intended use.
Pet food may contain not only animal by-products found in human foods, such as bone meal and organs, but also others such as udder and lungs, which, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, is not the organization that defines the ingredients and sets the labeling standards for feed regulators. These by-products are considered safe for pets, but not for humans.
“While most of the ingredients in dog food are similar to human products, they are designed to meet the needs of dogs, not people who have different nutritional priorities,” Majumdar said. “In addition, they contain foods that we do not need in large quantities in our diet. If you read the ingredients of dog food, you will find chicken by-product and animal fat.”
While the term “human” is sometimes used on dog food labels, it doesn’t mean much, says Tracy Navarra, a veterinarian at Peachtree Hills Animal Hospital. “There is a misconception about what ‘human level’ means,” Navarre told BuzzFeed News. “Edibles for humans are very different and are regulated by the FDA. The human level means nothing.”
According to AAFCO, pet food labeled “fit for human consumption” not considered edible for humans. In most cases, this means that it contains certain ingredients and is produced in a facility that is licensed to process human food, but is still not intended for human consumption.
However, in an email to BuzzFeed News, Pedigree told us that “Our products are designed for dogs and cats but will not be harmful if consumed by humans. The manufacturing processes and research that go into our products are the same and in some cases even better than those of human food manufacturers.”
But just like human food, pet food can be contaminated with certain types of bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have labeled dry food, canned food, and fresh pet food as safe, there is a risk that people will get sick if they eat them, especially recalled products. listeriosis, which found in recalled pet productsMaybe cause mild or serious health problemsfrom abdominal pain to infections of the blood and nervous system.
Nutritional risks likely outweigh benefits
Dog food does not meet the nutritional requirements of human food, just as human food does not meet the nutritional requirements of dog food.
“The dog’s gut is designed to deal with pathogens, bacteria, dirt, viruses, debris, parasites, etc. that the human gut is not used to,” Navarra said. “We are not the same, so we should not eat the same food. Although the nutritional requirements for proteins, carbohydrates, and fats may not differ greatly between humans and dogs, this should not be the deciding factor in voluntary dog food selection.”
A dog’s digestive system can break down proteins faster and more efficiently than a human’s. Dogs can produce more stomach acid than humans, making it much easier for dogs to digest the ingredients found in pet food, including bone matter.
Usually, recommended dietary allowance for protein for healthy adults is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which is 44 grams of protein per day for a 120-pound person and 55 grams of protein for a 150-pound person.
Protein is an important part of our diet, growth and development, but too much of it can negatively affect the bodypotentially causing bone, kidney, and liver problems and possibly an increased risk of cancer or coronary heart disease.
So how much protein does dog food actually contain?
The nutritional value of dog food is listed as a percentage of the dry matter, or dry matter, according to Majumdar. This means it has between 8 and 18 grams of protein per cup, according to Majumdar. For reference, a small dog can eat one cup of dog food a day, a medium sized dog about 2 cups, and large breed dog, 3 cups.
Clarisi received information from MyFitnessPal that seemed to suggest that 200 grams of Pedigree dog food, or about one cuphad 666 grams of protein.
However, Pedigree told BuzzFeed News that the highest percentage of protein in any of their dog foods is 28.7%, meaning that a serving of dry dog food could contain about 60 grams of protein, as opposed to 666 grams.
A representative from MyFitnessPal declined to help us understand why our math wasn’t true, but they did confirm that TikTokers seemed to be making questionable life decisions based on the information.
“MyFitnessPal has really noticed a surge in people signing up for dog food due to a TikTok trend that was driven by men aged 18-24 looking to gain or maintain weight. The spike in enrollment mostly occurred between February 20 and 24,” MyFitnessPal said in a statement.
In any case, consuming more than 600 grams of protein will not be healthy. This is about two to three times more than a daily amount considered safe even for bodybuilders.
“Excessive protein increases stress on the kidneys, liver, and bones,” Majumdar said. “A person who consumes excessive amounts of protein can develop kidney stones, constipation, weight gain, and may miss out on essential nutrients and fiber found in other food groups. In the long term, we may also see higher cholesterol levels and heart disease or colon cancer with this diet.”
According to UK Pet Food, pet foods may contain levels of sodium that, while no cause for concern for animals, can cause hypertension in humans. Pets can eat dry or wet foods containing sodium and not experience increased thirst or water intake like humans.
“Dry dog food, which is featured in some TikTok videos, can also be difficult to chew and digest,” Majumdar said. “The average person relies on food for 20% of their fluid needs, so eating mostly dry food can affect hydration.”
Luckily, there are other options that don’t require a trip to the pet food department.
Alternatives to protein intake
We got it: workouts fueled by protein and other nutrients can help build muscle mass and strength for exercise. However, carbohydrates are just as important for exercise and endurance, which can provide energy to support physical activity.
In fact, you may need more carbs than protein and people are encouraged to get 45% to 65% of calories from carbohydrates, which is between 225 and 235 grams per day if you are on a 2000 calorie diet. “They provide energy for fitness and muscle building,” Majumdar said. “If you’re feeling sluggish or recovering slowly after getting up, you may not be getting enough carbs.”
However, if you’re interested in getting protein, there are cheaper and safer ways to get enough protein in your diet. Majumdar told BuzzFeed News that lean proteins like skinless chicken or turkey, lean cuts of red meat, fish, lean dairy, eggs, beans, tofu, edamame, whey or soy protein powder are all good ways to get more protein. .
“If you’re looking for cheaper options, beans, both canned and dry, as well as canned meats like chicken and tuna, can help with the budget. Eggs are also usually cheaper than meat,” Majumdar said. “Vegetable proteins like beans and lentils can help save money and are rich in nutrients – fiber, protein, B vitamins. Beans cost us about 48 cents per pound compared to the average of $5.20 per pound. Be savvy and save on fat and bean cents.”