USDA highlights US pet food industry at Pet Fair Asia 2023

SHANGHAI — The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently hosted the US Pet Food Brand Promotional Session during Pet Fair Asia 2023 to help promote the latest innovations and commitment to quality in the US pet food industry. The USDA Trade Office at the US Consulate in Shanghai hosted a USA Pavilion and LAMB Agriculture Consultancy provided a livestream for exhibitors.

Nearly 3,000 pet food professionals attended the session on-site and online.

Lashonda McLeod Harper, director of the Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Shanghai, opened the session providing an overview of the US pet food industry. Regional distributors from US brands Sunshine Mills, Stella & Chewy’s, Timberwolf, Midwestern Pet Foods, Purpose and Zamzaws also presented, showcasing their history, as well as the innovative features and premium quality of their pet nutrition products. According to the ATO in Shanghai, these presentations helped strengthen attendees’ beliefs in the quality and functionality of US pet food products.

Companies showcased their latest products and advanced technology:

• Sunshine Mills highlighted the company’s commitment to food safety, discussing its SQF Level 3 management system.
• Stella & Chewy’s highlighted its pioneering freeze-dry technology that boasts stringent quality control standards.
• Timberwolf showcased its immune boosting pet food formula made with functional herbal ingredients.
• Midwestern Pet Foods highlighted its formulas made to support cardiovascular, coat, bone and joint health.
• Purpose showcased its products containing probiotics to help promote gastrointestinal health.
• Zamzaws highlighted its products formulated with Archaeal metabolites.

According to ATO in Shanghai, attendees were particularly interested in pet food products offering functional benefits, demonstrating the growing trend in functional pet foods currently emerging in the Chinese pet nutrition market.

Additionally, Peng Li, Asia regional director of the North American Renderers Association (NARA), provided session attendees a report on the production of US pet foods, ingredient analyses, and how animal proteins and rendered products have served as major ingredients in US pet nutrition products. Li also demonstrated the cooking process used in the US rendering industry, clarifying the importance of rendered ingredients in creating safe, high-quality and affordable pet foods.

Li also highlighted the strengths of the US pet food industry, particularly its commitment and long-term investment in research, companion animal science, pet food manufacturing technologies, and availability and quality of ingredients. According to Li, access to high-quality rendered ruminant ingredients in the US pet nutrition sector poses significant advantages for Chinese pet food processors.

After the session McLeod Harper, Ted Shibata, deputy director of the ATO in Shanghai, and other representatives from the USDA Trade Offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenyang, met with representatives from Pet Fair Asia to discuss pet food imports, trading and distribution.

With the session marked a significant success, similar sessions are expected to be held in other regions throughout China in 2024 to help further promote the high-quality and safety of US pet foods.

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