Preservatives

Just as humans dislike the taste of stale food, so do many animals. Stale food can dampen your pet's appetite and lead to a refusal to eat. Food that is exposed to air for prolonged periods may spoil and can sicken your pet. Stale food can also be expensive for consumers, who have to replace the uneaten kibble. To prevent spoilage and provide a better consumer value, it is necessary for manufacturers to add preservatives to pet foods. But just what are these preservatives, and are they safe for pets?

Artificial preservatives give processed foods a longer shelf life, but they represent potential health risks for your pet. Many commercial pet foods are preserved with BHA and BHT, chemical additives that have been associated with cancer in both humans and animals. BHT has been banned for human use in countries such as Japan, Australia and Sweden. Another common preservative, ethoxyquin, is a pesticide that is considered hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. Ethoxyquin is believed to cause infertility, birth defects and various cancers in animals.

We do not use artificial preservatives in any of our diets. All Timberwolf diets are naturally preserved with rosemary and/or mixed tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E). Natural preservatives have a much shorter shelf life than their synthetic counterparts, but they are free of the health hazards associated with chemical additives.

Because we choose safety over shelf life, we have put additional measures in place to extend the stability and longevity of our Timberwolf diets. We produce our food in small, frequently created batches to ensure maximum freshness. We offer the highest grade of oxygen barrier packaging to protect against oxidation, rancidity, and outside contaminants. Our bags feature a one-way degassing valve to maintain freshness and protect your pet's food from environmental elements.

You can also do your part to keep your pet's food fresh. An unopened bag of Timberwolf is good for one year past its manufacturing date. Once opened, the food should be consumed as soon as possible. Timberwolf diets should be stored in their original packaging. After closing the bag, store it in a larger food-grade container with a tightly sealed lid to lock out air and contaminants. The food should be stored in a cool, climate-controlled environment, away from heat and insects.

Timberwolf is dedicated to providing a safe, natural product at a superior value. Our diets and supplements are free of artificial preservatives and flavors. With Timberwolf, you know your pet is eating food, not chemicals.