Anybody been to Natura's site lately?

[Prin]

It's completely different all of a sudden... And it looks like they're making the evo bags funkier too...
http://www.naturapet.com/
http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

[Prin]

DANG!!! They changed Evo RM!! Just slightly, but still!
(And they don't make it easy to copy the ingredient lists now.. )

Beef
Beef is the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cows and is limited to that part of the striate muscle which is skeletal or that which is found in the tongue, in the diaphragm, in the heart, or in the esophagus; with or without the accompanying and overlying fat and the portions of the skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels which normally accomany the flesh.

Natura uses only high-quality beef, suitable for human consumption, not beef by-products found in some other products.

Lamb Meal
Lamb meal is the dry rendered (cooked down) product from lamb tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.

Lamb meal is simply lamb meat with the moisture removed, making it suitable for use in dry food. Before you buy a product containing lamb meal, ask the manufacturer about the origin of the lamb meal they use. Natura uses only high-quality lamb meat, not the lamb by-products found in some other pet foods.

Potatoes
Potatoes are whole, freshly cooked, Idaho russet potatoes, that include the skins.

Natura uses only whole, freshly steam cooked potatoes. They are not pre-processed, so they retain all of their important nutrients (including 'protector' antioxidants).

Potatoes provide B vitamins, carbohydrates, zinc, vitamin C, copper, iron, magnesium, niacin and potassium. Natura uses only fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, just like you would buy at the grocery store.

Egg
Egg is the part or whole of the reproductive body produced by hens.

Eggs are an excellent source of protein, with naturally occurring complex combinations of amino acids. Natura uses only human-grade whole eggs in our products.

Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is obtained by extracting oil from sunflower seeds.

Sunflower oil has a high concentration of linoleic acid (73%), which is important for good skin and coat health. Natura uses sunflower oil that has been cold-pressed and protected from exposure to heat and light. This very high quality, very palatable fat is used in California Natural and Innova formulations.

Buffalo
The American Bison is known to most Americans as simply "Buffalo". The American Buffalo is a massive animal that weighs from 800 to 2,000 pounds and stands nearly six feet high at the shoulder. A large head, high hump on the shoulders and dark brown shaggy hair characterize the buffalo. Bison are part of the family Bovidae, to which cattle and goats belong.

Buffalo meat is more in demand as increasingly health-conscious people are seeking a heart-healthy, lean red meat.

Lamb
Lamb consists of lamb tissue, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents.

Natura uses only high-quality lamb meat, suitable for human consumption, not the lamb by-products found in some other products.

Venison
The venison Natura uses consists of flesh and skin, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, hide trimmings, manure, stomach or rumen contents. There is currently no official AAFCO definition for venison.

Venison is a very lean, low fat source of protein. It is very digestible and highly palatable, with a very distinctive flavor. Natura uses this expensive meat as an alternative for pets that may have sensitivities to chicken or lamb.

Beef Cartilage
This is the cartilage of beef.

Chondroitin was first extracted and purified in the 1960s. It is currently manufactured from natural sources such as beef cartilage or by synthetic means.

Herring Oil (switched places with Natural Flavors)
Herring oil is the oil extracted from whole herring.

Herring oil provides a rich source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Because the herring that Natura uses is of such high quality, the herring oil helps produce healthy skin and lustrous coats.

Natural Flavors
Natural flavors are minimally processed flavor ingredients that do not contain synthetic or artificial components.

In the Natura products that include "natural flavor" in the formula, the exact composition is proprietary. However, the ingredient does comply with the FDA CFR which regulates this definition, and is always made from the same animal species on which the formula is based. For example, the "natural flavor" used in the original EVO formula contains a reduction of chicken meat - much the same process as is employed to create a chicken stock in your home kitchen.

Apples
A member of the rose family, the apple has a compartmented core and is thus classified as a pome fruit.

Apples are an excellent source of dietary fiber. About 81% of the fiber is soluble; most of it is of a type called pectin. Apples provide both soluble and insoluble fiber, some vitamin C and beta carotene, and potassium and boron.

Natura uses this nutritious fruit in its whole form to obtain all of its wholesome nutrients.

Carrots
Carrots are the roots of the carrot plant, and a member of the parsley family.

Innova dog and cat foods contain whole steamed, carrots which are free of pesticides.

When ingredients are fresh and not pre-processed, they retain the flavors and important nutrients (including 'protector' antioxidants) of the foods you serve at your own table. Natura uses only fresh, whole fruits and vegetables in our foods.

(Garlic was here)
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the edible berry of the tomato plant of the nightshade family.

Aside from their high Vitamin C content, recent research suggests that cooked tomatoes contain nutritional factors that are necessary for prostate health in human males. Like other recent health discoveries, these benefits may also apply to cats and dogs.

Natura uses only fresh, whole, human-grade fruits and vegetables such as you would find in the supermarket produce section. Fresh ingredients are mixed together in small batches and cooked by a special process to ensure the natural flavors and nutritional values are preserved.

Alfalfa Sprouts NEW!
Alfalfa sprouts are a member of the pea family.

Alfalfa sprouts are rich sources of antioxidants, anti-carcinogens, phytochemicals, enzymes, trace minerals and numerous other living nutrients which work against toxins, resist cell mutation and invigorate the body's immune system. One of the phytochemicals contained in alfalfa sprouts is 'saponins'. Saponins lower the "bad" cholesterol and fat but not the "good" HDL fats. Sprouts are good sources of vitamin C, folate, beta carotene and niacin.

Garlic (moved down)
Garlic is the whole clove of the garlic plant.

Garlic is valued for its anti-oxidant properties, as well as its enjoyable flavor.

Our formulations use the same fresh Gilroy garlic served in restaurants and sold in grocery stores. Natura selects only fresh, whole fruits and vegetables for our pet foods. They are not pre-processed, so they retain the flavors and important nutrients (including 'protector' antioxidants) of the foods you serve at your own table.

When comparing ingredients in pet foods, it pays to ask about the source of the ingredients. Are they human-grade? Are they fresh, dried, powdered, or otherwise processed? These characteristics affect both the flavor and nutritional value of the final product.

Cottage Cheese Moved up quite a bit
Cottage cheese is the result of separating milk or cream into curds and whey. The curds are drained and pressed to form the soft, white, spoonable cheese.

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, protein and vitamins. Natura uses table-quality cottage cheese, straight from its retail container. The cottage cheese has only trace amounts of lactose and because of its limited inclusion in the formula, the ultimate amount of lactose in the finished product is insignificant and would not be in sufficient supply to cause an intolerance problem.

Potassium Chloride Moved up
A chemical compound, KCl, a colorless or white, cubic, crystalline compound that closely resembles common salt (sodium chloride). It is soluble in water, alcohol, and alkalies.

Potassium plays various roles in metabolism and body functions. It assists in the regulation of the acid-base balance and water balance in the blood and the body tissue. It assists in protein synthesis from amino acids and in carbohydrate metabolism.

Vitamins/Minerals
Vitamins are organic compounds that function as parts of enzyme systems essential for the transmission of energy and the regulation of metabolisms of the body. Minerals are inorganic substances essential for a host of vital processes within the body.

AAFCO regulates minimum standard quantities of vitamins and minerals in levels that pets need to survive. All pet food manufacturers supplement their products with vitamins and minerals. Beyond meeting these minimum requirements, all Natura products contain a complete vitamin and mineral supplement program that helps pets to thrive, not just survive. The minerals Natura uses are chelated, providing three to ten times greater assimilation than common minerals. Our Innova products also contain beneficial probiotic supplements, which are not required by the AAFCO minimums.

Included in our foods are some of the following: Ascorbic Acid, Beta Carotene, Biotin, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Choline Chloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Dicalcium Pantothenate, dl-Methionine, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin, Potassium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin C Supplement (Sodium Ascorbate), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement (Alpha Tocopherol), Zinc Proteinate

Natura adds these important vitamins and minerals, in proper balance to its foods to ensure that your pet gets all the necessary nutrients for life and good health every day.

Dried Chicory Root was here

Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid is a white, crystalline, water-soluble vitamin, occurring naturally in citrus fruits, green vegetables, etc.

Ascorbic acid is a form of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant good for normal metabolism.

Natura uses the sodium ascorbate form of vitamin C for a natural preservative too.

Dried Chicory Root
Dried Chicory Root is the dried, non-roasted root Cichorium intybus L., used as a source of inulin, as soluble, fermentable fiber. It shall contain no less than 50% inulin and no more than 13% moisture. Chicory Root is a thick-rooted blue-flowered European perennial composite herb widely grown for its roots and as a salad plant.

Commonly known as a prebiotic the inulin derived from the Chicory Root is a fructooligosaccharide added to accomplish the same purpose as supplementing probiotics. The prebiotic feeds the "good bacteria" and hinders the growth of bad bacteria in the pet's digestive tract.

Direct-Fed Microbials
Vitamin E Supplement (moved down)
Lecithin
Lecithin is a specific phospholipid and the principal constituent of crude phosphatides derived from oil-bearing seeds.

Lecithin is essential for normal fatty acid transport within cells. It is obtained chiefly from soybeans, corn and egg yolk. Natura uses whole grains, fresh fruits and natural protein sources which provide all the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals necessary for the life and health of our pets.

Rosemary Extract

[technodoll]

excellent detective work!

i guess they're not so exclusive anymore in the "grain free" niche... they gotta compete now so marketing is spicing up the game

[~michelle~]

wow that must have been recently i was on their website a couple of weeks ago.... dont like the new packaging much, didnt see it in the store when i bought the boys their evo on fri. i cant tell would you say its better, worse or the same?

[Stacer]

Very slick looking. How do you feel about the EVO dry cat food? Yesterday I noticed phosphoric acid in the GO! Natural, I think I'm going to switch and EVO seems likely.

[Scott_B]

thats what i feed my three cats, Evo dry. Still working on a wet the three will eat.

[Prin]

Evo kitty is good.
http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1500
(I like their bag better than the dog one too. )

[LL1]

Saponins in alfalfa have been indicated in bloat in ruminant animals,it is debated with dogs (and soy and beet pulp)

[Prin]

Ahh... Saponins... :sad: The evil stool hardeners.