Words from our nutritionists : We don’t use any Soy, Wheat and Legumes
Soybeans, wheat, chickpeas, lentils, peas...etc are common ingredients in commercial pet foods. Legumes has a high cost / performance ratio in its protein source, however, due to 「GMO」,「Mycotoxin」and「Anti-nutritional factor」reasons, REAL POWER nutritionists team refuse to use the following :
1. Soybean
Genetically Modified Organism
It is still controversial to the health concern of GMO ingredients, in particular a high proportion of GMO soybeans. According to the USDA in 2019, genetically modified soybeans are more than 90%, with a very low numbers free from GMO.
2. Wheat
Mycotoxin
Wheat can be easily affected by temperature and humidity causing mold and produce secondary metabolites, for instance
- Aflatoxin (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 – COA examination)
- OTA : Ochratoxin, Citrinin (Many death of dogs were caused by both OTA and Citrinin in Taiwan 16 years ago)
- DON : Deoxynivalenol
- ZEA : Zearalenone
- T-1, T-2 : Trichothecenes
- Ergot alkaloids
- FUM : Fumonisin, etc
Cat and dog have very low tolerance and ability to detox the mycotoxin, even with a small dose in long-term, it is proven to trigger lesions in liver, kidney, cancer, tumour and immune related problems. All pet parents should always avoid from these kind of toxin.
Allergy concern
Gluten is one of the allergen in wheat, which occurs in the hard outer layer of wheat, also known as bran protein. Common allergic symptoms occurs in their gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and skin, e.g. rash, diarrhea. When cat or dog intakes too much wheat, especially those with sensitive stomach, it can prompt allergic reaction, leading a high level of gluten antibody activities with bran protein.
Cat and dog's defense mechanism of the immune system therefore cause specific allergy symptom.
3. Antigen - legume, chickpea, lentil, pea...etc
There are at least two kinds of antigen in soybeans, wheat bran protein and some part of legume composition, which the antigen is difficult to eliminate from the manufacturing process. Antigen can penetrate the skin cell of intestinal villi to the body, and carried by the blood to each immune organ and formed antibody with lymphocyte. When more antibodies react with antigen, it becomes complex that leads to inflammatory response to pet's body, such as diarrhea and even skin rash. Although legume is a good protein source to human, but we refuse to use any in REAL POWER's formula.
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