Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals made?

Our food is manufactured in the beautiful farm country of rural upstate New York, USA. Our facility has been making the highest quality premium pet foods made in America for the past 20 years. The plant has earned three of the most stringent certifications that a pet food facility can have, including the highest level of organic certification in the US-Oregon Tilth Certification, and the European Union Certification. (Europe’s testing standards are tougher than those in the US)

What is the background to the Grandma Mae’s formula?

Grandma Mae’s was formulated by one of the leading experts in the field of Animal Nutrition for 35 years; he has a PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois, and was one of the originators of the holistic fresh-ingredient category. The formula was tested in Canada for over 6 years before becoming available as Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals in the US.

Who owns the company that makes Grandma Mae’s?

It is owned by a co-op of independent pet retailers and 42 of its members. It is co-op owned—not corporate—which is why it’s such a great value.

Why should I buy pet food from an independent pet store?

The owner of your independent pet store is first and foremost a pet lover. The brands he or she carries are the product of years of study and research.

What’s another reason to shop at an independent pet store?

Buying at local merchants supports the economy of your area. Studies show that for every dollar you spend at retail, 3 ½ times more stays in your community if you spend it at a local merchant instead of at a national chain.

Where do the ingredients in Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals come from?

All of the ingredients are 100% from the USA.

Are the ingredients in Grandma Mae’s human grade?

Yes.

If the product is made in small batches, how do you maintain consistency?

Consistency is not at all related to the size of the batch. It is determined by being made on the same equipment every time using the same settings, and with the same operators. On the other hand, with a large-volume formula it is impossible to obtain ingredients of the same quality and freshness as with a smaller formula. With many large brands, your bag one month willl come from one factory, the next one from a plant in a different part of the country.

Does Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals have chelated minerals?

Yes, all the minerals in Country Naturals are chelated.

Was there really a Grandma Mae?

We named our pet food after our beloved Grandma Mae (1899-1985). Grandma Mae, “the lady with the smile,” was an early advocate and practitioner of healthy eating and exercise for both people and pets.

Does Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Pet Food need to be supplemented?

No. All Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals formulas are complete and balanced according to AAFCO guidelines, and do not need to be supplemented with anything.

Is your menhaden fish meal ethoxyquin free?

Yes, we buy naturally stabilized fish meal, so it is ethoxyquin free.

Does Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals contain Vitamin C that comes from Asia?

Nearly all the supplemented Vitamin C available comes from China, as there is only one producer in the world left outside of China—it’s in Scotland. However, your pet’s liver manufactures all the Vitamin C it will ever need, so there is no need to supplement it.

How Do I Know My Pet Food is Safe?

We can’t speak for other brands, but all batches of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals are sent to an outside lab after we make it and tested for Salmonella. Only when we know the batch is safe do we release it for use.

DOG FOOD FAQS

What size is Grandma Mae’s kibble?

The kibble is relatively small so that pets of all sizes can enjoy it.

Can I feed Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Adult Pet Food to older pets?

Yes! Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals has been approved for all life stages.

How many calories are in Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals?

The Adult Dog and Cat/Kitten formulas contain 470 calories per cup, the Puppy formula contains 490 calories per cup, and the Low-Fat formula contains 376 calories per cup.

What is the magnesium content of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals?

The magnesium content is Min. 0.1%.

What is the calcium content of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals?

The Adult Dog formula has a calcium content of Min. 0.85%, and the Puppy formula contains Min. 0.96%.

What is the phosphorus content of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals?

Both the Adult and Puppy formulas have a phosphorus content of Min. 0.7%.

Does Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals contain supplemented Taurine?

Pet foods that contain a substantial proportion of meat, like Country Naturals, do not require Taurine to be supplemented. Only pet foods that have less meat than Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals, e.g. foods with lots of corn, need to supplement Taurine.

What is Chipped Rice?

Chipped rice is pieces of rice that are sifted from, and smaller than, whole grain rice. It is nutritionally equivalent to whole rice. In making pet food, both whole grain rice and chipped rice are ground into pieces even smaller than chipped rice.

Why is Beet Pulp in GMCN Puppy Food?

Beet pulp is a gentle “insoluble” fiber which absorbs moisture and adds bulk to stools for easy elimination. Beet pulp is mainly fiber, produced after nearly all the sugar is extracted from sugar beets. The amount of sugar in the product from this ingredient is extremely low, so low as to be insignificant from a nutritional standpoint. It is colorless and does not turn any part of a pet red. Beet pulp is a good source of nutrition for the beneficial bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract.

What is the best way to introduce Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals as a new food to my pet?

Most pets love Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals the first time they try it as their primary or sole food. For pets not accustomed to changing diets the best way to introduce a food is to gradually mix it with the old diet adding a larger amount of the new food at each meal as you decrease the proportion of the old food. This should be done over a period of 7-10 days. When a gradual transition is not an option, do not leave large amounts of Country Naturals out for your pet all the time. Feed controlled portions to keep your pet from eating too much of the new great-tasting food.

What if my pet tries Grandma Mae’s and experiences a softened stool?

This is very rare, and will probably not happen to your pet. If it does happen, contact the retailer where you bought the food. If you cannot reach the retailer for a day or two and you think an abrupt change in food has caused the softened stool, try adding solid pack pumpkin (canned plain pumpkin without added spices) to each meal for a few days.

How do I know if my pet needs to lose weight? If so, can I feed Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals?

A pet owner can tell if their pet is overweight by looking at their pet from above to see if there is a waist in front of the hips. Owners can also look at the pet from the side to make sure there is no belly but that the abdomen goes up between the ribs and the hips. An owner can also feel the rib cage and although the ribs should not show from the outside (which could mean a pet is underweight), the ribs should be easy to feel. If an owner must put pressure on the sides of the rib cage to feel the ribs, or cannot feel the ribs at all, then the pet may be overweight.