Best Reader Tips of 2021
This year reader tips led to dozens of ad alerts, as well as a complaint to regulators.
Be wary of fish food products that fail to live up to their name.
We recently got a tip from a reader who said he analyzed over 435 fish foods (435!) and found many deceptively named after a “minor ingredient” in the product. One of the products was Wardley Algae Discs, which lists “Ground Dried Spirulina,” a type of blue green algae, as the ninth ingredient, six ingredients after “Fish Meal” (so much for fish being friends, not food).
Wheat Flour, Wheat Middlings, Fish Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Gluten Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Soy Protein Isolate, Ground Dried Spirulina, Fish Oil, Soybean Oil, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Rice Hulls, Choline Chloride, Betaine, Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K activity), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Mineral Oil, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate.
Under federal law, ingredients in pet food must be listed in descending order of predominance by weight. So the next time you’re shopping for fish food, you might want to check the ingredients before you buy.
Here are some other fish food products that fail to live up to their name:
Dr. Bassleer Biofish Food Acai Formula
Dr. Bassleer Biofish Food Garlic Formula
Find more of our coverage on pets here.
Our Ad Alerts are not just about false and deceptive marketing issues, but may also be about ads that, although not necessarily deceptive, should be viewed with caution. Ad Alerts can also be about single issues and may not include a comprehensive list of all marketing issues relating to the brand discussed.
This year reader tips led to dozens of ad alerts, as well as a complaint to regulators.
Be wary of fish food products that fail to live up to their name.
Be wary of fish food products that fail to live up to their name.