Complaint
This edition looked at the cost of different brands of wet and dry food available for dogs and cats, and sought to give the audience information about what pets need for a healthy diet. 聽A viewer complained the report was not wholly accurate and at times misleading. The ECU considered whether the programme met 大象传媒 standards for due accuracy.
Outcome
The report was presented by a practising small animal veterinarian and included a contribution from a representative of the British Veterinary Association (BVA). 聽The complainant argued it misled viewers because it gave the impression pet dogs and cats could be switched from a more expensive, quality pet food to a cheap supermarket food with 鈥渘o ill effects to the pet鈥檚 health鈥.聽 In the ECU鈥檚 view the programme would not have given such an impression. 聽It repeatedly made clear that pet foods which have the word 鈥渃辞尘辫濒别迟别鈥 on the packaging will provide all the nutrients a pet needs regardless of the price or the quality of the ingredients, advice which appears to be in line with industry standards for the manufacture of pet food. 聽聽The spokeswoman for the BVA explained why some pet foods may be more expensive than others, referring to the type and amount of meat used, the 鈥渇iller ingredients鈥 contained in the food, and the amount of scientific research and development carried out. 聽But she reiterated the fact that there is a range of options for every budget and 鈥渕any of these are absolutely perfect for your pet鈥檚 health鈥. 聽It was also made clear by the presenter that any change in diet should be gradual and monitored.
Not Upheld