Recent food recalls by the FDA have created a frenzy in the pet food market. Over the past two months, hundreds of dog and cat foods have been added to the recall lists for containing a chemical called “wheat gluten”. This product was added to foods to increase their protein levels, however in cases around the world, the contaminant has been killing pets. Although the recall only effects a small portion of the pet food available for purchase, more and more consumers are taking a closer look at the ingredients listed on Fido’s food bag. Wide-spread concern has also spread over the contamination of chickens and pigs consumed by humans and the overall response has lead to increased sales of all-natural, organic products and more people turning away from discount food brands.
One example of a company thriving because of the recall is Pet Chef Express. This all natural pet food company which offers free home delivery of pet food has been taking hundreds of new orders since the recalls. The company is based on the understanding that pets shouldn’t be fed anything that wouldn’t also be safe for humans to eat. As such, none of their food contains artificial colors, chemical preservatives, or crude fiber that can damage digestive tracts, such as rice bran, wheat bran, soy hulls and peanut hulls. Instead, food is made with natural chicken, rice, lamb, venison, beef, corn, vegetables, catfish, oatmeal and salmon. The company also carries canned foods made by other companies, but all of those are also natural and safe for pets, such as Sensible Choice Canned Dog Food. Their own products include a wide variety of dry dog and cat foods. For dogs, varieties such as Lamb and Rice, Catfish and Potato with Duck, Chicken and Rice, Venison and Potato with Salmon, Adult Lean, Maintenance for Adults, Puppy and Sensitive Diet are offered in 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80lb bags. Dry cat foods are available in Kitten and Cat, Premium Cat, and Lean Diet Cat food, offered in 8, 16, 24 and 32lb bags.
For many pet owners, the listed ingredients and faithful promise from Pet Chef Express that their pet foods contain nothing unnatural or harmful is more than a perk, but has become an essential requirement in the foods they feed their pets. Many animals have food allergies or have developed food problems because of the harmful elements in many food products. Many dog and cat foods contain animal by-products. These can include toenails, animal heads, hardened bones, intestines, feathers, stomachs, lungs, and tumors. Pet Chef Express contains no by products and all of the ingredients are U.S. grown, except the lamb which is imported from New Zealand. The company operates 22 warehouses in 14 different states, so their premium dog and cat foods may not be available to everyone yet, but that’s bound to change as the shift towards natural and healthier pet foods continues. Currently Pet Chef Express can be found in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Pet Chef Express also stocks and delivers a wide range of pet treats manufactured by a variety of safe and natural companies. Everything from 100% natural duck strips for animals with allergies, to all-natural freeze dried beef or chicken nibblets, to salmon and tuna treats, to Texas toothpicks and bully stix. Texas toothpicks are cow tails while bully stix are made from the organs that make bulls different than cows. They’re tremendously popular with dogs, and the humans usually find them highly amusing. The most popular item on the menu? Dog Beer. A beef-flavored non-alcoholic beverage for dogs that is constantly on back-order.
With all of these natural meat products and home delivery, Pet Chef Express sounds like a much more costly venture than big-name dog food companies. However, their prices are beyond fair. For a 17.5lb bag of Science Diet Lite dog food at Petsmart.com, the price is $21.49, plus shipping. From Pet Chef Express a 20lb bag of Adult Lean dog food is $21.00, and the delivery is free of charge. The owner of the Minnesota-based branch always has a supply of doggy treats for each delivery and even if you’re not home, your treats will be left with your package. So with all natural ingredients, no harsh preservatives or by products, free home delivery and a better prices than many large brands, what’s not to love? Essentially nothing. Each Pet Chef Express website for the states which it serves has testimonials from happy customers with picky dogs, overweight cats, or sensitive animals that have found a delicious alternative in Pet Chef Express.
Amid the masses making the conversion to Pet Chef Express, I submitted my own first order last week. My delivery was one day late, but that was caused by a severe thunderstorm and a tornado which the delivery van got caught in. Certainly, most deliveries would have been much later after such an encounter and I was impressed by their quick turn around time. I was also impressed by the phone call I received explaining why my food hadn’t been delivered and that it would be to my door first thing in the morning. When I returned home the next day, my 20lb bag of Adult Lean was waiting for me, along with the very large bag of Beef Nibblets and plenty of bone shaped biscuits, free of charge. The food is packaged in a sturdy white plastic instead of the usual waxed paper bags that can be damaged by moisture, which means weather won’t ruin by order. My dogs loved the beef nibblets and the sample of Adult Lean that I put in a bowl was gone in about 3 minutes. What amazed me the most was my parent’s dog, Max. He’s a busy little fellow who is concerned with only one thing in life, his squeaky ball. And while my dogs may love Pet Chef Express, Max, in general, turns up his nose at treats, food and anything that isn’t being consumed by humans. When the bag of beef nibblets was opened, he sat patiently in line for his treat with everyone else. Amazing! He even tasted a few kernels of the dry dog food and surely, if fed Pet Chef Express regularly, would stop running past his full dish with little to no concern about eating ‘non-people’ food.
Anyone lucky enough to live in a state where Pet Chef Express operates should visit their site and check out the foods for themselves. Free samples are available, but it may be quicker to simply order a 5lb bag to try out, since many of these warehouses are seeing double the orders that they’re used to. Chances are, your dog or cat will love it anyway and you’ll need to order a larger bag! I will certainly not be feeding my dogs anything else, as long as Pet Chef Express is around to provide a natural, tasty food for my own pets. Other pets can find food at Pet Chef Express as well, including exotic birds, reptiles, and rodents.
