help me pls😭 - Carna4 dog food is kinda big issue in Korea (very long post)
Hello. I’m a dog owner in South Korea and I’ve been very interested in canine nutrition and have been studying the subject on my own. I know this is a rather long post, but I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to read it and share your thoughts.
Recently, there has been a huge controversy in Korea surrounding the calcium and phosphorus levels found in Carna4 Fish dog food during a random food testing conducted by CVSC, a private quality-assessment organization that evaluates pet food products based on five strict criteria in collaboration with veterinary and animal nutrition experts.
Carna4 has become extremely popular in certain Korean pet communities. It has often been described as the No. 1 dog food, or even the “Hermès of dog food,” with people saying that its only real downside is the price. Carna4 is relatively expensive in Korea, and it is also only available in smaller packages.
>!According to the figures publicly released by CVSC, the tested Carna4 Fish sample contained 0.32% calcium and 0.51% phosphorus. If these figures are accurate, the product would not meet the AAFCO minimum requirements, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio would also be significantly imbalanced, with phosphorus being roughly 1.6 times higher than calcium. This makes me concerned that there could potentially be problems with long-term feeding.!<
The Korean importer of Carna4 has explained that Carna4 is made using 100% natural whole-food ingredients and does not contain added calcium or phosphorus supplements because it relies on naturally occurring nutrients. They have argued that differences in the ingredients themselves, as well as differences in analytical methods between laboratories, can lead to variations in the reported nutrient levels.
They also stated that a recent test conducted in Canada showed that the product met the relevant nutritional standards.
**However, the head of a laboratory at the Korean Feed Additives Association, an officially recognized feed-testing organization in Korea, reportedly commented that even when considering factors such as differences in harvest seasons and natural variation in raw ingredients, nutrient values might differ by 0.1% or perhaps 0.01%, but a difference of more than threefold would simply not be plausible.**
The laboratory that CVSC commissioned for its testing is reportedly not some obscure or unqualified facility. It is an officially accredited testing institution recognized by the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, so many people believe that its analytical capabilities and results are credible.
Carna4 also claims to conduct very rigorous in-house testing and to disclose its test results transparently. However, regardless of what the situation may be in other countries, Carna4’s reputation in Korea seems to have taken a significant hit because of this controversy. Many pet owners are switching to other foods, and The Honest Kitchen is probably the most commonly mentioned alternative.
There has also been considerable criticism of the Korean Carna4 importer’s response to the situation. Many people feel that their communication and handling of the issue have been inadequate and disappointing.
One particularly frustrating point is that calcium and phosphorus were not listed in the guaranteed analysis on the Korean product page. (I assume there may have been some legal reason why they were not required to list them.) However, after the controversy emerged, the importer hurriedly added calcium and phosphorus information to the Carna4 Fish product page, while the Chicken and Duck product pages still do not list them.
For reference, the only Carna4 products currently sold in Korea are Fish, Duck, and Chicken, and an Iberico formula is reportedly expected to be introduced later this year.
Personally, I feel that there are very few dog foods available in Korea that I can comfortably trust. Regulations regarding pet food are relatively weak here, and there have even been cases involving the use of animal carcasses in pet food production. So, unfortunately, seeing questionable ingredients or nutritional quality in Korean dog food is not particularly surprising. The pet food industry here also has a relatively short history compared with some other countries.
I’ve learned quite a bit about dog food and canine nutrition over the years, which is why I have generally tried to avoid feeding my dog extruded kibble whenever possible. Then I discovered Carna4, and it seemed to check almost every box for me. I felt that it was one of the best options available, so I have been feeding my dog Carna4 exclusively.
Now I’m really torn about what to do.
**Should I switch to another food, or would it be reasonable to continue feeding Carna4 while waiting for more information?**
I’m also considering **The Honest Kitchen** as an alternative, but I’m not sure whether it would be a good choice. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on The Honest Kitchen as well.
What do you think about this whole Carna4 situation, and what would you recommend I do?
I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts, especially from anyone with experience in canine nutrition, veterinary nutrition, or evaluating commercial dog foods.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this very long post!!! and also sorry for my bad english (I used a translator)