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May 2023
Why kibble is being replaced by fresh dog food in 1000's of Australian homes
AThese days, the pet food aisle is more crowded with options than the dog toy selection at Toys R Us. And just like trying to figure out the differences between the ‘Barbie with Green and Mauve Skirt’ and ‘Barbie with Pink and Mauve Skirt and Hairbrush’ that justifies the $20 difference in price, when we take a look at the dry food offerings for your dog, we see nothing but slightly altered shades of the same thing - small, brown discs of super heated, concentrated, dry food that doesn’t resemble anything mother nature puts on the table.
Thankfully, there’s alternatives out there. Alternatives that are freshly-made, human-grade and designed to cater to the dietary needs of your dog’s breed. Let’s check out why that’s important.
You might have heard the news - fresh dog food is in-vogue, and for good reason.
Dry kibble is designed with a certain set of goals in mind, and they’re far different than the buzzword spray you see plastered on their industrial-grade giant plastic bags.
The first is scalability, or how much of this can we possibly produce in the shortest amount of time, for the lowest cost.
Following that is, of course, what can we fill this product with so that it’s cheap, and stays fresh for years. We like to call it the twinkie model of financial success.
The key point here is that your dog's nutritional needs are not a priority. Feed-grade ingredients and starchy carbs don’t mix well with good canine health, nor do artificial preservatives, colours and flavours.
To get the most out of your dog’s mealtimes, there’s a growing body of evidence that suggests gently cooked, fresh dog food that makes ample use of high-quality, natural ingredients. At ilume, we’ve taken that message onboard.
Nutritionaly balanced dog food that tastes so good your dog will beg for more.
Learm More About ilume Fresh Adult Dog Food ilume only uses fresh and high-quality meat.
Does the term ‘meat meal’ conjure up any images? A grass-fed, farm-to-table sirloin steak, perhaps? Think more a pink paste of various off cuts and body parts.
The dog food industry at large has taken to ‘meat meal’ like Melbourne has the $7 latte. It can’t get enough of the stuff.
This conglomeration of discarded animal tissue that other industries have thrown away is ‘processed’ (a polite word for melted, we think) at high temperatures and rendered into a meat paste is the protein of choice for most major kibble brands.
At ilume, we don’t touch the stuff. We’re taking good quality cuts of meat and turning them into a meal deserving of your dog’s enjoyment. It’s nutritious, delicious, and what your pup needs to thrive.
ilume uses low amounts of carbohydrates, especially starchy carbohydrates, and higher amounts of proteins and fats that dogs love
When it comes to doggy macronutrients, carbohydrates play third fiddle to proteins and fats. Yet when it comes to lowering the production costs of kibble, carbohydrates occupy pole position - some brands even contain up to 60% of the stuff.
Carbohydrates are cheap, and give kibble its unmistakable shape.
But the speed with which it is digested, and the extent it is processed, has been linked to weight gain in pups.
At ilume, we’ve turned the nutritional table, and prioritised high protein and healthy fats in all our meal options. In fact everything we make is grain free dog food.
ilume Dog Food is made from human grade ingredients, just like you'd make at home
Shop ilume's Delicious Puppy Food for a Complete Growth Diet for your Puppyilume doesn’t use any artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours.
Artificial flavours make kibble appealing to dogs, artificial colours make it acceptable to owners, while artificial preservatives ensure it stays stable on the shelf for years. Yet, many dog owners today are concerned about artificial preservatives, colours, and flavours found in kibble.
ilume doesn’t use any artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours, as evidence shows many potential negative health impacts of such ingredients including potential adverse food reactions.
ilume only gently cooks food at low temperatures.
Kibble is created in a furnace. Well, not literally, but the temperatures they’re cooked at are high. This often alters the core structure of the carbohydrates (and the smidges of fat and protein) included in the ingredients, impacting digestion and creating pro-inflammatory compounds in the process (we’re talking Maillard Reaction Products and Advanced Glycation End-products, for those who enjoy a deep-dive.).
At ilume, our cooking motto is low and slow. That way, we can lock in the good nutrients and ensure your pups digestion is in tip-top shape.
If you’re on the path to fresh food and healthy eating for your dog, keep up the great work!
We know choosing a dog food is overwhelming, and wading through the wealth of information out there on the best choice for your pupper can be difficult.
At ilume, we’ve taken the evidence-based approach, and employed good food science to create a product that is high-quality, natural and designed for the optimum health of your dog. And they taste great, too!
Article credit: Written by the ilume Dog Food Nutrition and Science Team.