Why Are Pet Food Trials Needed?
Pet food manufacturers rigorously test their products to ensure it is safe for consumption and nutritionally balanced. Palate Pro’s focus is on assessing the palatability (how yummy the food is) of pet foods: does your pet enjoy the taste of their food? Do they finish their meal or just have a nibble and ignore?
Why is assessing the palatability of pet food products advantageous? Pet food manufacturers may make adjustments to their recipes, change suppliers for ingredients and want to ensure there is no impact (or a positive impact) on the palatability of their product. Alternatively, they may want to compare their product to a different brand to see how it performs, or assess how yummy their brand new product is, before bringing it to the market.
By partnering with real pet owners to test the palatability of pet foods at home, we can provide real world feedback to pet food manufacturers to ensure our pets have food they enjoy!
To safeguard the health of pet participants, our research has been approved by the NSW Department of Primary Industry Secretary’s Animal Care & Ethics Committee and is conducted in compliance with the relevant legislation¹.
SO HOW DOES IT Work?
We run regular trials, commonly over 2 – 4 consecutive days. There is no strict obligation to participate in all trials (though it is encouraged) – you choose what works for you and your pets. When a new trial is planned, you will be contacted to see if you want to participate.
We have several locations at Vet clinics across the Northern Rivers, where you can pick up your food packs, bowls, weighing scales and trial instructions. There is no cost to you. We do ask that if you choose to opt out of the program at any point, that you return the bowls and scales to us.
All trials are completed in your own home using structured feeding instructions provided by our team. Participants record brief daily observations via our secure Feeding Portal, designed to be quick and easy to use while ensuring high-quality data. Entries only take a few minutes.
Your participation contributes directly to improving the quality of future pet foods. In appreciation of your time and consistency, completing trials earn you rewards, typically provided as vouchers redeemable at your chosen Vet clinic.
When the trial commences, it’s as easy as following the trial instructions:
4. Observe your pet and record any relevant observations.
1. At each meal, weigh out the instructed food in the provided bowl to match the required weight for your pet.
3. When the 30 minutes is complete, pick up the bowl, interrupting feeding if necessary. Record the time and weight of food remaining.
2. Set a countdown timer for 30 minutes and place the food bowl down for your pet to eat – start the timer. Record the time and details in the Palate Pro feeding portal.
When the trial commences, it’s as easy as following the trial instructions:
1. At each meal, weigh out the instructed food in the provided bowl to match the required weight for your pet.
2. Set a countdown timer for 30 minutes and place the food bowl down for your pet to eat – start the timer. Record the time and details in the Palate Pro feeding portal.
3. When the 30 minutes is complete, pick up the bowl, interrupting feeding if necessary. Record the time and weight of the food remaining.
4. Observe your pet and add any relevant observations.
Benefits of participating
You will be supplied pet food to feed your pet for several days. As you successfully complete food trials, you will accrue gift vouchers (to use as credit at your chosen vet clinic), and the more trials you complete, the more chances of winning a grand prize of $500! If you wish, you may also choose to donate your accrued rewards to help other pet owners struggling to afford veterinary care for their pets, or to a chosen Animal Rescue group.
Pet food trials also benefit all dogs and cats, by ensuring food products are made highly palatable. The pet food industry is constantly evolving, and new and improved food products are consistently being developed.
Help improve pet food through safe, vet-supervised trials and receive rewards for your pet’s participation.
© by Palate Pro – advancing the future of pet nutrition through real-life feeding trials. Palate Pro is an independent research and testing program.
