Fact Checking the Comparative Analysis Presented
We became aware of an article on the Omni website titled ‘ Omni vs. Bonza: A Comparison of Leading Novel Protein Dog Food Brands‘ in the latter part of 2024.
While it is flattering to be singled out for comparative analysis, one would expect, and hope for, any analysis to be grounded in facts that prove useful to the consumer looking for reliable information as part of their research on what they choose to feed their dogs – unquestionably the single most important decision we make for our dogs’ lifelong health and wellbeing.
Unfortunately this analysis is not entirely factual – a great deal of misinformation, and disingenuity, exists.
Having contacted Omni to request corrections to the article on November 19th 2024, and waited patiently for a response which, to date, has not materialised, I have chosen to post below my emailed request for amendments to ensure that the analysis was both factual, and unbiased.
The following is the content of my unanswered, or acted upon, email sent to Omni:
Good Evening Omni,
The following page https://omni.pet/blogs/news/bonza-dog-food-comparison contains misinformation which should be amended with immediate effect:
Whereas many brands like Bonza use 1 or 2 hero (typically leguminous) proteins in their recipes, Omni intentionally uses 5 different sources of protein in its recipes to overcome the risk and to ensure the balance of amino acids is equivalent to meat.
Bonza includes 8 sources of protein in its recipe – peeled peas, potato protein, pea protein, nutritional yeast, quinoa, fava beans, chickpeas and seaweed. More than the 5 included in Omni Adult.
Bonza’s recipe contains 25% protein, just 7% above legal minimum as set out by FEDIAF (the European regulatory body for pet food) versus 30% in Omni’s recipe.
Although protein is an expensive component of pet food, Omni justifies a higher inclusion level on the basis that protein is the most important nutrient for dogs to thrive and that reduced bioavailability of some plant proteins in dogs means extra is needed to ensure minimum physiological requirements are both met and surpassed.
There is an inference in this statement that the level of protein in Bonza’s formulation may be insufficient to meet a dog’s physiological requirements. As Omni Sensitive also contains 25% protein level this comment is disingenuous and misleading.
This is particularly important as a lack of sulphur-containing amino acids like methionine can easily go unnoticed and over time could increase the risk of canine heart disease.
Bonza includes methionine in its formulation. The inference in the statement is that Bonza may contain insufficient methionine. Methionine is an additive in the formulation, as it is in Omni Adult’s formulation.
Omni Sensitivity is also richer in herbs ………
The inference in this statement is that Omni Sensitive is richer in herbs than Bonza. The Sensitive formulation includes 5 herbs – Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Sage, Parsley. Bonza formula includes 11 herbs – Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Echinacea, Siberian ginseng, Panax ginseng, Chamomile, Rosemary, Parsley, Oregano, Basil and Sage.
Bonza also supplements using synthetic versions of important nutrients like Omega-3 and 6, while Omni sources them from natural ingredients such as marine algae.
The above statement is blatantly misleading and false. The sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 in Bonza are not synthetic, and are all provided by natural sources.
In addition, Omni boasts a 24/7 email support service, including free veterinary consultation, to include evenings and weekends.
Bonza also boasts a 24/7 email support service, free veterinary consultation 24/7, 365 days a year.
We look forward to your rectification based on the above.
Best Regards,
Glendon
Re Omega-3: Bonza’s Omega-3 is provided by DHAgold™ – a premium standardised algal extract containing DHA, EPA and DHA.
While I find having to resort to writing this article demeaning, the continuing presence of the article and its misleading information (unaltered despite my request), leaves me with little option.
I consider it vitally important that pet families are presented with transparent, and factual, information to enable them to make the right decision for their dog’s nutrition.
For those of you researching our respective foods, I trust this serves to provide you with a more factual basis for comparison 🙏