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Dry pet food may be more environmentally friendly than wet food
Pet owners may have a new reason to reach for the kibble.
Dry cat and dog food tends to be better for the environment than wet food, veterinary nutritionist Vivian Pedrinelli of the University of São Paulo in Brazil and colleagues report. Their analysis of more than 900 hundred pet diets shows that nearly 90 percent of the calories in wet chow come from animal sources. That’s roughly double the share of calories from animal ingredients in dry food.
The team factored in the cost of different pet food ingredients across several environmental measures. The findings, described November 17 in Scientific Reportssuggest that wet food production uses more land and water and emits more greenhouse gases than dry food.
Scientists already knew that meat-heavy human diets drive greenhouse gas emissions (SN: 5/5/22). But when it comes to environmental sustainability, “we shouldn’t ignore pet food,” says Peter Alexander, an economist at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the work.
Just how much various pet foods impact the environment isn’t clear, Alexander says. Commercial cat and canine fares aren’t typically made from prime cuts of meat. Instead, the ingredient lists often include animal byproducts — the gristle and bits people aren’t likely to eat anyway.
How to calculate the carbon cost of these leftovers is an ongoing debate, says Gregory Okin, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles who was not involved with the study.
Some argue that the byproducts in pet food are essentially free, since they come from animals already raised for human consumption. Others note that any calories require energy and therefore incur an environmental cost. Plus, animal ingredients in pet food might not just scrap. If they contain even a small amount of human-edible meat, that could add up to a big impact.
Knowing that there’s an environmental difference between moist morsels and crunchier cuisines could be helpful for eco-conscious pet owners, Okin says. Having that handy info at the grocery store is “super important when people are making decisions,” he adds. “There are consumers who want to pay attention.”
Season of Sharing helps Bay Area food banks seeing unprecedented need as costs soar
The economy and job creation are bouncing back in the wake of the pandemic, but the Bay Area’s need for food is as high as ever, as soaring inflation and gas prices put pressure on people’s budgets — and also strain the food banks themselves, some of which are experiencing a dropoff in donations.
After seeing unprecendented demand during the first two years of the pandemic, Bay Area food banks are still struggling with a heavy need from low-income residents and those who are out of work. That’s despite the COVID case and death rates falling and many businesses are reopening and rehiring workers.
“Today, it feels like the need is just as high” compared to the worst periods of the pandemic, said Regi Young, executive director of Alameda County Community Food Bank. “It doesn’t feel like it’s getting any better.”
The Oakland organization estimates that one in four Alameda County residents are now experiencing food insecurity, up from one in five before the pandemic.
“So many families and individuals, even if they might be back at work, (are) still really struggling,” said Leslie Bacho, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, which operates throughout Silicon Valley. “Our community is so fragile right now.”
Workers move vegetable pallets through the warehouse at the Alameda County Food Bank, which has had to shift the food items it buys, focusing on lower-cost items that can be purchased in higher quantities.
Jessica Christian / The ChronicleIn September, Second Harvest served 460,000 people, 80% more than pre-pandemic levels.
The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund: Since its inception in 1986, the Season of Sharing Fund has distributed $177 million to help Bay Area residents with critical needs. Administrative costs are covered by The San Francisco Chronicle and the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. fund. To donate, visit www.seasonofsharing.org/donate.
Second Harvest and the Alameda County Community Food Bank are among the Bay Area food banks that have received funding from The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, which has funneled $28 million to these organizations since 1986.
During the 2021-22 fundraising campaign, the Season of Sharing Fund distributed nearly $2.4 million to Bay Area food banks, enough to fund more than 5 million meals. About 15% of the funds the Season of Sharing Fund raises goes to food banks across the Bay Area’s nine counties.
The fund will continue to support food banks this year as rising costs have added a new hurdle.
Nationally, the inflation rate was 8.2% in September compared to the prior year, and food prices were up 11.2%. California gas prices were near record highs over the summer. Many pandemic benefits such as federal unemployment assistance and eviction moratoriums have expired, further straining residents.
Volunteers from various agencies work at the Alameda County Food Bank in Oakland.
Jessica Christian / The ChronicleSecond Harvest buys around a quarter of its food — the rest is donated — and has seen big price increases on staples like milk, eggs and chicken. As a result, it’s now delivering a half-gallon of milk per household each week, instead of a gallon. It’s also no longer buying more expensive items like peanut butter, though it still receives donations.
The high cost of gas also hurts food banks, which must transport food both into warehouses and out to partners.
Despite low unemployment at just over 2% around the Bay Area, many workers are struggling due to rising costs and the expense of living in the Bay Area, said Bacho.
The group conducted a survey over the summer which found that 93% of clients were buying less food this year and 73% were worried about paying rent or mortgages. Many’ savings have been wiped out families, with 60% of clients saying they had less than $250 in savings.
Bacho said support from the Season of Sharing Fund provides a “steady source of reliable revenue” that helps the organization meet its mission. Second Harvest works with hundreds of non-profits, schools, affordable housing providers and others to deliver food.
Young said he appreciated the Season of Sharing Fund, both financially and as a way to make the community more aware of how prevalent food insecurity is.
Harold Brooks (left) of the Alameda County Food Bank helps Miguel Sanchez of Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana loading his truck with goods to take back to the church.
Jessica Christian / The ChronicleAlameda County Community Food Bank has also had to shift the food items it’s buying, focusing on lower-cost items that can be purchased in higher quantities.
The organization is now spending as much as six times more per month on food than before the pandemic, or up to $1.5 million a month.
Unlike for-profit businesses, which can pass on higher expenses by raising prices for consumers, food banks don’t
Texas A&M Beer-Drinker Cultures World As ESPN Zooms In On Co-Eds
Saturday’s game against LSU ended Texas A&M football’s season on a high note. Although the Aggies didn’t make a bowl game after beginning the year ranked in the preseason Top 10, they did upset the Tigers to close out the regular season and kept their SEC West foes out of College Football Playoff contention.
That is something, I guess?
As soon as the clock hit zero, Texas A&M fans stormed the field to celebrate the monumental win (I say that flippantly) for the program. Actually, they rushed the field before the game ended and had to go back and try again. Whether the win deserved such a large on-field celebration was certainly questionable, but storming is fun and fun should always be encouraged.
Speaking of fun, one fan in particular was having a lot of it. However, his — and the state’s — beer-drinking practices came into question.
Late in the second quarter, the ESPN broadcast zoomed in on the crowd. Specifically, the camera focused on two blonde co-eds who were spinning their towels in support of their team.
While the zoom was certainly a choice, it wasn’t about the women.
Behind the two female Aggies was a bearded man with a brewski in hand. It appeared to be a Dos Equis tall boy.
Before he took a sip of his beer, the Texas A&M fan pulled out some sort of tiny bottle and dumped something on the rim of his can. Here is the entire sequence:
Although the bonk-worthy camerawork was one point of emphasis, so was the beer-drinker’s bottle. Was he pouring hot sauce in his Dos Equis? Was it a liquor shooter? Why did he have that in hand?
As it would turn out, the Texas A&M fan was spicing up his cerveza with some Mexican blend seasoning.
The exact condiment was unclear. However, he was either putting beer salt or Tajin chili pepper blend in the mouth of his can.
Basically, he seasoned his own rim. While it may have looked strange on TV, the Aggie beer-drinker was putting the rest of his suds-sucking classmates to shame. What a legend!