Veterinary and sanitary rules for organizations for the storage and sale of feed and feed additives for unproductive animals, including fish. Rules for storing dog food

Dogs, unlike cats, are not as picky about food. And they can afford it - they have a pretty "strong" stomach, thanks to the high acidity gastric juice. However, this natural feature does not insure your dog from food poisoning, one of the reasons for which may be improper storage of dog food. In the meantime, it is enough to follow simple safety measures so that food does not become a source of trouble for your pet.

How to store dry food?

The main rule for storing dry food is protection from intruders: rodents, insects and dust mites. Mice and rats are not averse to tasting the food itself, but this is not main danger: rodent secretions may contain bacteria that cause leptospirosis in dogs.

The dry food contains grains, which attract insects. If the food is not removed in a cool place, then insects with highly likely will love it to lay their eggs.

If moisture gets into the food, then mites can start in it and mold, toxic to dogs, will form. You will immediately notice if the food is infested with mites: the food appears to be covered in dust.

It is enough to follow a few simple rules for storing dry dog ​​food, which will help keep it safe and sound:

• Store food in a cool, dry place.
• Sealed plastic or metal container The best way food storage.
• The best choice upon purchase: sealed packages packaged under controlled atmosphere. In this case, the fats that must be included in the diet will not be oxidized.
• Do not buy too much food at once, just buy a portion for a month. The longer the feed is kept open, the greater the risk of contamination.
• If you have multiple bags of food, keep them on the shelves, not on the floor, and always check the expiration date, open the oldest bags first.

How to store wet food?

Wet food is stored hermetically packed and in small portions, so it has a long shelf life and there is no danger of contamination from outside. But after opening, his age is short, and moisture attracts insects.

Wet food is stored for 2-3 years, and dry food - only 1-1.5 years.

Wet food is even easier to store than dry food:

• If you have opened wet food, then store it in the refrigerator in a closed plastic or metal container for no more than 2-3 days.
• Wash your dog's bowl thoroughly and regularly after wet food- Bacteria easily develop in its remains.

And one more universal advice: keep food labels, even if you are used to transferring it to containers. Firstly, this way you will not forget the expiration date of the feed. Secondly, if you have any doubts about the quality of the feed, you can get advice from its manufacturer.

Nil desperandum.

Recently, in the topic of feeding cats, there was a discussion about the shelf life of open bags of food. In order not to add somewhere else, I will create a new topic and tell you everything I know about the pitfalls of food storage.
So, we know that there are two types of preservatives that are used in the feed industry: natural and artificial. Natural (tocopherols, lemon acid, vitamins E and C, herbal extracts) are safer, but less durable, artificial (BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, Propyl gallate, Propylene glycol) are more toxic, but the food is stored longer. The expiration date of the food (or the date of its manufacture + expiration date) is indicated on the packaging. But the period and rules for storing open food on the packaging are usually not indicated.

Soft (canned) food in open form stored for no more than a day, in the refrigerator, tightly closed jar. Some companies make special plastic lids for their jars (for example, Hill's used to make such lids), but the best container for storing food is a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
It is not recommended to buy a large can of soft food and store it for a week, periodically feeding the pet - after 48 hours, fermentation processes are already underway in most feeds.
Soft food should not be left in the bowl all the time, it quickly deteriorates in warm air. If the animal has not eaten the food, remove it and in the future give the amount that is guaranteed to be eaten at a time.
When closed, soft food can be stored until the expiration date, in a dry, dark place, protected from direct sunlight. It makes no sense to put closed canned food in the refrigerator, unless it is recommended by the manufacturer (see storage conditions on the packaging). If the house is very stuffy and hot, then in this case, you can store canned food in the refrigerator. Remember: before eating, it is advisable to warm the food to room temperature! Do not give your pet cold food!
Dry food before opening the package, it is advisable to keep in a dark, dry, cool place. Once opened, they are ideally stored for 4-6 weeks.
It is recommended to store them in a closed bag (Zipp lock on the bags themselves, if this is not the case, then fold the top several times and fasten with clips), a special container (they are sold at a pet store) or a dry, clean and tightly closed container (glass is most preferable, and if plastic, then only food!) dry dark cool place. "Native" packaging is preferable, you can wrap it well and put it in a container. Use large paper clips, sticky tape, tape, paper clips, or clothespins as clips.
“We pour out the food for about a week, leave the rest in the original packaging with a Zipp lock, carefully close and wrap it, let out the air.”(c) -> With such a competent method, the food is definitely stored longer, 8-10 weeks. In this case, the bag should be in a dark, dry, cool place, and the part that was sprinkled for a week in a tightly closed container, also in a dark, dry, cool place.
In this form, there is less contact with air, and dry food will remain usable for longer.
You can store dry food in the refrigerator, under a lid, in a hermetically sealed container, in which case it loses part palatability but it doesn't spoil quickly. Food should not be given cold You need to warm it up to at least room temperature. If the food in the refrigerator is poorly closed, then it is saturated with moisture, food odors and may become moldy.
Feed absorbs moisture very well, so if the room has high humidity and the feed is in an open container / bag, then it starts to deteriorate many times faster. The same thing happens if the food is kept warm or in direct sunlight. With high humidity, mold appears in the feed, and sometimes an increased reproduction of bacteria begins. When food is stored in an open form, when oxygen access is not limited, oxidation processes begin in it, fats become rancid, vitamins, natural preservatives and additives lose their properties, which negatively affects the health of the pet. Open feed weathers and loses most taste qualities. Same way open feed attracts insects, from micro-mites to insects (flies, for example), which lay their eggs and larvae in it. The warmer the environment where the food is stored, the more comfortable the insects are. If there are rodents in the house, then they are not averse to climbing into an open bag of food, not only to feast on them, but also to leave a surprise there in the form of urine and feces, and mice are carriers serious illnesses.

Results, briefly:
1) Food is stored in a cool dry (18-20°C) dark place.
2) After opening the package soft food it is stored no more than 24-48 hours (in a glass container in the refrigerator), and dry - 4-6 (up to 10) weeks, depending on storage conditions.
3) The feed is stored in a hermetically sealed container, preferably designed for this, or in its own bag, but well closed, without air access.
4) The main enemies of the feed: oxygen, heat, humidity, light.
5) Ideally, the opened package should be eaten within 4 weeks.

Dry food is the choice of millions of pet dog owners around the world. Which brands of dry food are considered the best can be found from. But in order for this type of food to be as safe and correct as possible, please adhere to the following rules storage.

Proper storage of dry food is not only protection against rodents, insects and dust mites, but also from their possible traces of vital activity: for example, bacteria that cause leptospirosis in dogs; or insect eggs. And if moisture gets into the food, then mites and toxic mold can start in it (when the food seems to be sprinkled with dust). Incorrect storage of dry dog ​​food can cause gastrointestinal problems and even lead to severe food poisoning.

Main condition proper storage is dryness and impermeability. Immediately after opening the bag, pour the food into a dry, clean and tightly closed container. If the package is small and equipped with a zip latch, then it is not necessary to pour the food, the main thing is to always close it tightly. Oxygen, all kinds of bacteria living in the air, the sun's rays - all this has an extremely negative effect on the taste and quality indicators of the feed. Oxidized, it becomes tasteless, and the animal may simply refuse to eat it. That is why we do not recommend buying dry food by weight, especially in those stores where open packages just sit on the floor. If dry food is exposed to direct sunlight and air, then this threatens to lose all useful properties, taste qualities and makes it unsuitable for consumption.

- one of best solutions, especially if you purchase large volume bags. As a rule, such containers are made of an inert material that does not affect the taste and chemical characteristics of the feed in any way, and can protect the feed from possible rodents, insects, mold and oxidation. And in the case of especially mischievous dogs that gnaw through packages of food, also from them.

So, the basic rules for storing dry dog ​​food:

• The main condition for proper storage is room or slightly cool temperature (18-20 degrees is considered optimal), darkness, dryness and tightness.
• If the manufacturer's packaging has a secure zip fastener, then it is not necessary to use an additional container. Otherwise, store food in a glass, plastic, or tin container, choosing trusted and trusted brands.
• DO NOT store the bag open and accessible to free access to oxygen, dust, sunlight, bacteria, rodents, etc.
• The dry food container or package must NOT be exposed to direct sunlight or near heat sources.
• DO NOT store dry food in the refrigerator: Moisture and odors from your refrigerator, as well as possible bacteria and germs found on unprocessed foods, can be harmful to your pet if they get into dry food.
• Always read the manufacturer's recommendations for food storage on the packaging.

How to choose the right food container?

• Give preference to well-established brands: for example, the Polish brand, or the Italian Stefanplast. The materials from which such containers are made will be 100% safe for your pet's food. Remember, not all plastic is safe, not all plastic is food grade.
• by the most safe material for food storage is a glass container. The only problem is that there are almost no such containers on sale. For small quantities, you can use glass jar, but it must be stored strictly in a dark place.
• Tin containers are also suitable for storing dry food, but such containers are very rare.
• Choose the size of the container that you really need. If you have one small dog, then you should not buy packages of 25 kg. Based on the figure, how many kg of food your pet eats in 1 month, or what packages you usually take food. No matter how good the container is, it is always better to give fresh food, not one that has been open for several months.
• Containers on wheels, or with an internal scale in grams, with a convenient measuring cup or spatula. All this is selected based on your needs.

So many people, when choosing food for their dog, stop at ready stern. Good dry food contains vitamins and minerals that are essential for a dog's health. But if the food is stored incorrectly, it can become dangerous: lead to poisoning of the animal. Even avid dog lovers can sometimes not understand that they themselves made a mistake. So what is the right way to store food?

• The simplest and most understandable rule for everyone is to keep food closed.

This product often attracts rodents and insects that carry infections. Even a bug can accidentally get into the package and lay eggs there, which will subsequently healthy food harmful. If your home has never had a single insect, food still needs to be covered - it can also deteriorate from the usual long contact with air.

As for canned food, they should not stand open outside the refrigerator for more than four hours. Ideally, the pet should immediately eat a canned lunch.

• Best before date

Everything here is for people. Despite the fact that dogs have quite strong organism expired feed will not do them any good. After the expiration of the period of use, vitamins and minerals lose useful and nutritional properties, which means that the dog will eat the usual tasteless crackers.

This is just one of the rules, which, as it turns out, many do not know. Storing food in a container is very convenient and practical, but you need to do it wisely. Experts say that food should be placed in a container along with the factory package.

Do not store food on the balcony

because of elevated temperature or humidity, alas, some convenient places for storing supplies disappear. For example, a balcony or a garage. There are no such problems with small packages, but those who buy huge bags at once have faced this issue at least once. Experts advise finding a dry and cool place in the apartment so that all the vitamins are preserved. Keep the food closed, and preferably where the dog cannot get, in order to avoid gluttonous outings.

• You should always wash your dog's bowl

We never eat from dirty dishes, and neither should dogs. it basic hygiene. Veterinarians say that the bowl should be washed after every meal in hot water with dishwashing detergent. If food remains in the bowl, it must not be mixed with new food.

Observe these simple rules- then the meal will be both useful and safe for the pet!

Compound feed is more complex and difficult storage objects than grain, flour and cereals. This is explained a large number components included in their composition, and the various physical, chemical and biological properties of each component. Various components differ in critical humidity. Thus, the critical moisture content of bone meal is 8.7%, flour from alfalfa leaves - 14.9%, cake and meal from cotton seeds - 11.5 and 12.8%, respectively. Depending on the components, the critical moisture content of compound feed is 10.0...14.5%. When applied to animal feed, the term "critical moisture" characterizes the possibility active development microorganisms upon reaching it.

The microflora of mixed fodders in the overwhelming majority consists of microorganisms inhabiting the grain mass. But their total number in 1 g of compound feed can be much more than in the grain mass, since the recipe includes products such as bran and grass meal, which are extremely saturated with microorganisms.

Compound feed is a favorable breeding ground for many bacteria and especially mold fungi. In the presence of enough moisture (at the level of critical and more) and positive temperatures (10 ... 20 ° C and above), molds develop rapidly, emit a lot of heat and serve as the main cause of self-heating. The microflora contamination of loose compound feeds is much higher than that of granular ones. This is explained by the effect of high temperatures on the microflora during the granulation process.

Ticks and insects also contribute to the spoilage of compound feed. All insects reproduce successfully in compound feed in all areas of the embankment, even at low humidity. Due to the large porosity of loose (56...58%) and granular (50...54%) compound feeds, the supply of air (oxygen) necessary for the intensive development of both microorganisms and insects is provided in the embankment. The only factor limiting the development of insects in compound feed is low temperature (below 10 °C).

Storage of compound feed low temperature and humidity less than critical significantly increases the period of their safe storage. At low temperatures, neither microorganisms nor insects can actively develop, and various oxidative processes in mixed feeds are less intensive, leading to a loss of their freshness.

The complexity of storing compound feed is also explained by their large sorption capacity. Possessing hygroscopic properties, compound feeds significantly change their moisture content. This happens especially quickly in loose feed. Sorption and desorption of water vapor most intensively occurs during the first 3 days and ends after 10...14 days. In compound feed in a warehouse or in a silo, the processes of sorption and desorption occur intensively in the upper layer of the embankment. The rate of moisture penetration into the embankment depends on the granulometric composition of the feed and its porosity.

To protect against sorption moistening, compound feed is stored in dry warehouses. The relative humidity of the air in them should not exceed 70 ... 75%. Warehouses and silos should be clean, free of pests and well ventilated. Compound feed, BVMD and AVMD are stored in bulk or in containers. When storing in bulk, the following loading height is allowed: with a moisture content of products up to 13% - up to 4 m, more than 13% - up to 2.5 m. section, with a height of more than 20 m.

Compound feed, BVMD, AVMD and premixes packed in bags are stacked in stacks no more than 14 rows high. It is not allowed to stack products in damaged and contaminated bags. As a container, kraft bags are the most common. All types of products are stored separately sorted strictly according to recipe numbers.

The stability of compound feed during storage depends on the quality and number of components included in the recipe. In accordance with GOST R51850-2001, storage periods are established various kinds feed industry products. Compound feed for growing and fattening young cattle, pigs in industrial complexes, as well as poultry can be stored for 1 month. from the date of production, the shelf life of other types of compound feed in loose and granulated form, as well as BVMD and AVMD - 2 months. from the day of production. The recommended shelf life of premixes depends on their moisture content and packaging method: premixes with a moisture content of up to 10% and from 10 to 13% are stored for 5 and 4 months, respectively, packed in containers - 3 months.

When storing products over the specified periods, they are checked for toxicity at least once a month and no later than 10 days. until the moment of use. lengthen safe term storage of compound feeds is possible when storing them in an atmosphere of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide. An oxygen-free environment significantly reduces the loss of carotene and inhibits oxidative processes.

The condition of compound feed is systematically monitored. Daily external inspection of stored products is carried out. Determine the color, smell, if a deterioration in the condition and problems in storage are detected. Measure the temperature in the storage and the mass of the product. If the air temperature after two weeks of storage rises by 5 ° C, then the pest infestation of grain stocks is determined, as well as humidity and titratable acidity.