Acana Foods - Page 1

For those of you who feed Acana Regional Foods, be aware that the formulas have recently changed.  The changes are said by Champion Feeds (recently bought out) to be insignificant, but I feed Acana Ranchlands and was having great success with it.  Today I bought two new bags.  They cost $5 more per bag and were one pound lighter in weight.  I looked up the ingredients and this is what I found.  The changes are significant indeed.  Now peas are the third ingredient on the list and the calcium content is greatly increased, as is glucosamine and chondroitin, but I sure wonder about the balance.  My dogs did not have a chance to adjust as I was out of food as of this aft.  But I simply cannot imagine how peas as the third ingredient on the list can be a good thing.  Here are the old and new formulas. 

Old Formula
Acana Ranchlands Grain Free Dog Food Ingredients
Deboned beef, lamb meal, herring meal, russet potato, peas, beef liver, herring oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), deboned bison, deboned lamb, sun-cured alfalfa, salmon meal, lamb liver, pea fiber, pumpkin, spinach, turnip greens, tomatoes, carrots, apples, organic kelp, cranberries, blueberries, juniper berries, chicory root, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile flowers, lavender flowers, summer savory, rosemary, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.
Crude protein (min.) 31.0 %
Crude fat (min.) 17.0 %
Crude fiber (max.) 3.0 %
Moisture (max.) 10.0 %
Calcium (min.) 1.8 %
Phosphorus ( min.) 1.4 %
*Omega-6 (min.) 2.5 %
*Omega-3 (min.) 1.5 %
DHA / EPA 0.5 % / 0.5 %
*Taurine 0.3 %
*Glucosamine (min.) 400 mg/kg
*Chondroitin (min.) 250 mg/kg
New Formula
Deboned beef, beef meal, green peas, deboned lamb, lamb meal, whitefish meal*, herring oil, field
beans, red lentils, whole potato, salmon meal, deboned bison, beef liver, lamb liver, sun-cured
alfalfa, pea fibre, whole apples, whole pears, sweet potato, whole pumpkin, butternut squash,
parsnips, carrots, spinach greens, cranberries, blueberries, kelp, chicory root, juniper berries,
angelica root, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, lavender, rosemary.
Vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, riboflavin, folic
acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate,
copper proteinate, selenium yeast, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product. 
Crude protein (min.) 31 %
Crude fat (min.) 17 %
Crude fiber (max.) 5 %
Moisture (max.) 10 %
Calcium (min.) 2.3 %
Phosphorus 1.3 %
Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio 1.8:1
Omega-6 (min.) 2.5%
LA (min) 1.5 %
Omega-3 (min.) 0.8 %
DHA / EPA (min.) 0.3 % / 0.3 %
Omega 6: Omega 3 ratio 3:1
Glucosamine (min.) 600 mg/kg
Chondroitin sulfate (min.) 800 mg/kg 

I wouldn't worry too much about the increased Calcium. It's from animal protein, so a different  "standard" than the calcium level in f.e Royal Canin.   The Glucosamine increase does seem significant. Unfortunately not my cup of tea, so I hope someone else can help you on that one. 

I used to feed Orijen, it's also this amount in Calcium. 

It concerns me that the protein analysis may be added to, or contributed to, from the high legume content and that is not a complete protein, missing important amino acids.  I need to research this more.  If anyone on this site has a good knowledge of this subject, please weigh in here.  Thanks.

thanks for posting the changes.  I was not aware they were bought out or made changes.  a 2% fiber change can be a big deal for dogs with sensitive digestive systems.  Also, peas give my girl gas and she has a great gut, can and will eat just about anything, especially if I put it in her dish.



Darcy

I feed Acana and was also not aware of the changes.  I noticed a difference in the packaging that last time I bought his food, but didn't read it!  I'm not sure I'm happy that they've sold out, that's not usually a good thing in my estimation, we'll see.  I just may be looking for another food soon, damn!

Thanks for the info, I'm glad somebody's paying attention, because I sure wasn't!

I heard rumor that they had sold out - so emailed them. They wrote a very respectful response explaining that they have NOT sold out!  I don't have it to cut & paste without digging through old old emails. They have restructured with family member....for business reasons.  Email them.
As for the formulation change...why again, don't you ask them to explain why they have done this.  I read so many anecdotal opinions about food from people with zero nutritional backgrounds.....not sure this is the right way to make a decision?

of course if the peas cause increased gas...them by all means make a change - that's an individual dog decision.
good luck.....Alex

Thank you for this information. We feed Acana and Orijen, have for years--since that mess in 2007. Our primary reason for switching to these foods was their formulation and the integrity of the manufacturer. Now the formulation has been changed and the manufacturer is an unknown. Back to researching dog foods.

ETA: Upon further reading I've learned that the manufacturer is the same, Champion Petfoods. There exists a business relationship with an investment firm, Bedford Capial, which still provides for partial ownership of the company to Peter Muhlenfeld, son of founder Reinhart.

They were not bought out as others have said.
Acana is still a part of Champion Pet Foods.
They did shut down production for awhile to re-tool in order to increase production.
I also feed Ranchlands now (have also fed Grasslands a lot).
I think that the changes in formulation have more to do with the peas and lentils that you are seeing now in the formulas nudging potatoes down lower on the list of ingredients, meaning using less potatoes. I think that this is a good thing.
You are seeing many of the higher end pet food manufacturers going this route.
Look at the formulas from Legacy as an example.

I've been happy with Acana, I have never had a problem with it.  I've been down to the last crumb before buying more food a few times in the last couple of years.  He never once went hungry, but there were times I had to wait until I was down to a few meals.  Anyway, sometimes he had a sudden switch in formulas, depending on what they had in stock, and never once did he get a loose stool.  Drake never has gas either, but he didn't on any food, he's just not prone to it.

I wouldn't change unless I saw a difference in my dog, so I wouldn't jump ship just for ownership issues.  I'd worry more about differences in processes and ingredients first and foremost. 

I  appreciate the info posted, clarifications included.  I should have been paying better attention because I do want to make sure he's getting what works for him, that's the best I can do.  Acana works well and I'll stick with it unless that changes.  Now that I'm aware of a change though, I'll be more vigilant about reading the labels, instead of taking it for granted.  Thanks!

Old WP kibble is darker and denser looking. The new WP kibble is bigger, lighter in color and more airy looking, ie: grainy looking even though it's grain free. Mixing the new WP 1/2 and 1/2 with the old WP, bigger airier looking stool out of the one dog so far. Will give it a little time but looking for another option already for this dog.