Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

The Movie “Petfooled” Changed the Way I Buy Dog Food — and It Should for You, Too

In 2001, I read Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. It explained not only what I was putting into my body at the drive-through window, but also what my money was supporting, everything from the way factory-farm animals are treated to the way fast-food workers are managed.

I’ve not given a single nickel to a fast-food restaurant since. Not for a burger, not for a fry, not for a soda. Zippo, nada, bupkis.

In 2006, I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. It explained where the food in my grocery store originated, along with what my money was supporting, everything from the subsidized corn industry to the fossil-fuel industry.

I’ve not bought a single package of traditionally produced chicken, beef, or pork in the supermarket since. Not the wings, not the patties, not the chops. Diddly-squat, goose egg, zilch.

And now that I’ve seen the documentary Petfooled, I will never buy dog food the same way again, either.

unnamed

The relationship that we Americans have with food—at least those of us trying to be conscious consumers—has been evolving and fast. Think back just 15 years: A few grocery stores had an organic section brimming with everything from Asian pears to cashew milk. There was not a Whole Foods in all of Manhattan. And who had ever heard of kale or quinoa?

Today, the trend toward buying and eating healthier human food has exploded, but in the realm of pet food, this concept remains nascent. As with so many things involving our dogs, a lot of us have simply never thought about what we’re buying or why we’re buying it. Just as we didn’t previously question what was in our own food (or demand better of the companies that produced it) many of us have failed to ask: What’s really in that dog food? Is it actually good for my dog?

These are the questions the new documentary Petfooled challenges us to consider, in ways that should motivate us to change our shopping habits when it comes to our dog food, too.

One of the early scenes that snapped me to attention explained how kibble came to be so ubiquitous. According to the film, during World War II, a moratorium was placed on using cans as dog food containers because the metal was needed for the war. Pet food companies had to come up with other packaging, and wet food didn’t work in paper or plastic bags.

Thus began the mass production of kibble, right at the time in American history when everybody was moving to the suburbs, buying a house with a white picket fence and getting a family dog. And just as so few of our parents and grandparents ever asked about the kennel realities behind the cute puppies they bought from pet stores and breeders, or about what was happening inside our shelters back then, pretty much nobody asked what was going into those bags of kibble, either.

The reality, Petfooled explains, is that the shift in packaging gave pet food manufacturers a way to change primary ingredients without most dog owners noticing. Things like corn, wheat, and other less-expensive, “biologically inappropriate” foodstuffs, the film says, started showing up—arguably contributing to the rise in dog diseases from diabetes to obesity to allergies.

And why would the pet food companies change that financial windfall formula, even if the metal cans are now back on the shelves? Most of us with dogs today have simply followed our parents’ lead, buying bags and cans of dog food without knowing what’s in them, and without thinking twice.

Even if we do try to read the labels today, discerning the dog food’s contents can be an exercise in frustration. Petfooled explains that if a bag or can’s label includes the words “dinner,” “formula,” or “nugget,” then it must contain only 25 percent of the meat or fish being advertised. If the label adds the word “with”—as in, “with chicken”—then the percentage of the ingredient required, Petfooled says, drops to just 3 percent. The word “flavor” on dog-food packaging can mean zero trace of, say, the juicy steak in the picture on the front of the bag, according to the film.

Most of us don’t bother to read the labels anyway; only a few times in recent history have we even thought there was a reason to do so. There was the chicken jerky scare in 2011, with the discovery that some treats from China were killing beloved pet dogs. Before that, in 2007, the big scandal was dogs dropping dead of kidney failure, leading to millions of packages of food being recalled.

Those incidents did get some of us to start reading labels, but even in that massive recall, the amount of pet food pulled off the shelves amounted to only 1 percent of all the pet food in American stores, according to Petfooled; the episode was a blip, one that the $23 billion pet food industry easily overcame.

The film’s creators say they reached out to all the major pet food brands for comment, and that none would participate in the documentary. That, of course, makes the pet food companies look about as trustworthy as the multinational companies that now control much of our human food supply, and that have gone to the extremes of demanding “ag-gag” legislation that makes it illegal for those of us with questions about our food’s origins to so much as take a photo inside of a livestock facility in some states.

When you think about it, the only thing that has gotten the biggest human-food producers to start changing their ways—even a little bit—is consumers demanding better by giving our weekly food budgets to upstart competitors. Our options for human food are finally now improving, some 15 years after I (along with millions of other people) realized what I was buying into by reading that first book and changing my shopping habits.

Petfooled rightfully urges all of us dog lovers to start taking the same conscious-consumer approach to the food we buy food for our pooches so that we’ll see more grain-free dog food, raw dog food, and other “biologically appropriate” options in pet supply stores in the years to come.

I’m on board. I’m reading labels. And I’m not giving another nickel to dog food brands that may actually be bad for my pups. Zero, nil, skadooch.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Why Do Shih Tzus Stink? 4 Vet-Reviewed Reasons & Solutions

Canines often do gross things like rummage through the garbage and eat poop. However, they still tend to be clean animals, grooming themselves...

11 Benefits of Doggy Daycare for Dogs: Vet-Approved Facts

Doggy daycare lets dog owners drop their dogs off at the center where they will be cared for, exercised, fed, and watered until...

How to Stop Dog Drooling? Our Vet Explains

One of the less appetizing features of dog ownership is dealing with drool. While there are some breeds that might seem like they’re...

Dog Training Techniques: 7 Vet-Verified Methods & Their Differences

Part of the responsibility of being a dog owner is making certain your dog is well mannered around others. A dog owner is...

More related

Is a Maltese Dog Hypoallergenic? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

Being an allergy sufferer and a dog lover is one of life’s cruel ironies, and it means finding a hypoallergenic dog is a...

CBD for Dog Seizures and Epilepsy: What Science Says

Watching your beloved dog have a seizure is a scary and highly distressing ordeal for you and your dog. Luckily there are treatments...

Anatolian Pyrenees Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Temperament & Traits

When you take a hybrid breed of any sort, it is pretty much a gamble as to what you can expect from each...

Barkseat Drivers: Lava, Hela and Lajka Battle for the Best Seat

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two crossbreed dogs, Lava and Hela. Having a big...

Keep reading

Wag vs Taste of the Wild Dog Food: 2025 Pros, Cons & What to Choose

So, your vet has just advised you that your dog should go on a grain-free or limited grain diet as it is either allergic or sensitive to the grains in its food…now what? The world of dog food is complicated...

Dogster_Dog Food Wag VS Taste of the Wild

Can Dogs Eat Dried Mangoes? Vet-Verified Nutritional Info & Risks

A mango can be a beautiful, delicious, and healthy part of a human’s diet. When ripe, this juicy fruit is easy to eat and full of important nutrients that all bodies need for good health and a high quality of...

Can Dogs Eat_Dried Mangoes

Can Dogs Eat Purple Sweet Potatoes? Vet-Verified Facts & Alternatives

Purple sweet potatoes are a delicious treat for us, and when we’re chowing down on them, it’s common for our pups to start begging for some. So, Can dogs eat purple sweet potatoes or should this be avoided? The truth...

Can Dogs Eat Purple Sweet Potatoes

Can Dogs Eat Bread? Vet-Verified Types & Risks

Humans have enjoyed bread since ancient times. It is a staple in most households, and we’ve derived so much pleasure from eating it. But if you’ve been thinking about sharing some with your dog, you want to ensure dogs can...

Can Dogs Eat Bread

8 Best Dog Foods for Hair Loss in 2025: Reviews & Top Picks

Shedding is common with some dog breeds, but if you experience more shedding than usual or hair coming out in clumps, leaving behind bald patches, that’s a sign that something is amiss. Whether your dog is suffering from a skin...

a shetland sheepdog shedding a lot

6 Pros & Cons of Putting Water in Kibble: Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts

Rehydrating dog food can be a really beneficial habit. It sounds like the perfect thing—you spice up your dog’s food bowl while providing extra moisture in the diet. Plus, it helps dogs who may have issues with chewing or appetite....

labrador retriever eating dry kibble from metal bowl

Christmas Dog Treat Recipes: 6 Great Options (Vet Approved)

Christmas is a time for celebration and an excellent excuse to share our appreciation for those we love. If you have a furry four-legged family member, there’s no reason you can’t make them feel special this holiday season, too! Yuletide...

Christmas Dog Treat Recipes

Can Dogs Eat Butter? Vet-Approved Nutrition Advice

It isn’t uncommon to feed your dog a bite or two from your plate; our canine pals are always overjoyed to get a taste of what we’re eating! But not everything we like eating is healthy or safe for our...

Can Dogs Eat Butter