storage container for dog and cat food

[Juneysmom]

I heard that you should not store dog or cat food in plastic containers. The reasoning being that the fat in the food reacts chemically with the plastic and makes the food bad. Is this true?

If it is true, then can anyone recommend to me a proper storage container that is tight, because we have a bad ant problem here. Just in case you need to know, I feed my cat and dogs Natural Balance.

Thanks in advance.

[blazeman]

hmmm I store Jake's food in a plastic container... and I knew more than a few friends who do too... if this is bad... I would like to know too!

[carpet gator]

If that is true, why are some cat foods sold in plastic jugs?

I suppose it could still be true, though. It would be interesting to find out.

[carpet gator]

I found an article in the PNW Portuguese Water Dog Club about storing food in an air tight containers.

I was unable to copy it, but you can pull it up in pdf format. It is on page 3.

http://www.pwdnw.com/Images/2002_Q1.pdf

Pretty interesting stuff.

[Patt]

Good job Carpet Gator, I tried to search and came up with zero!! Evidently I didn't ask the right question LOL.

I have a lot of dry foods (cats/dogs) so mine are left in the original bags and kept inside 32 gal Roughneck garbage cans. So far so good.

Thanks again for the info.

Patt

[Meemoo]

is to keep it in it's original packaging...with a rubber band once opened closed in a bigger container....this way it stays fresh in it's own packaging to keep away bacteria etc. If you take it out of its original packaging and put it directly into plastic...it can become rancid rather quickly.

[MARTHA]

We have always stored our dog food in the bag in an aluminum can - I don't think that they had plastic cans when my Daddy started storing his food that way. Of course we start off with new cans. My crew watched with great concern the last day we were at the house and they loaded their can full of food into the pod. They were real glad to see the extra bag in the car...just looking out for their tummies!

Martha and the band of Gypsies

[dutchman]

I suspect the climate where you live might also impact how food reacts to different storage conditions. I feed a mis of two foods with three boys I purchse the one food in a 20# bag and the other in an 18# size. I have some large plastic containsers with screw on lids (sold for animal food storage) that will hold most but not quite all of a full bag of food. For daily access to the food I have two rubbe rmaid containes that must hold about 1,,5 gallons each. I wait till both the daily and the large containers are empty before I open a new bag of food. I then first fill the daily contain and put the remainder of the food into the larger storage container. The smaller containers last a little over a week before they are empty at which time I open the large container and refill the small one. I typically have to pick up a bag of onre or ther other foods each month with there being times that I have to purchase boot foods at the same time. I'll estimate a large bage last 4-6 weeks. I've never had a problem with food spoiling but then I live in drey colorado.

I remember one time my sister came visiting from NE SD and her dog wouldn't eat. It's food was beeing poured out of the original paper package. a clsoer inspection of it's food showed it was full of weavels and or magotts(SP). Needless to say that bag went into the trash and her dog got some of my parents dogs food.

I decided to go with the sealed containers to prevent any possible insect contamination sine a few years ago a number of people in my town home comple were having ants get in their units. I have also know a few dogs to chew through a corner of a food bag if it is left where they can get to it. Feeding three boys the samll bags are gone too fast and becomes too expensive. The big bags are too bulky to try and work out of on a daily basis.

I'll keep an eye on their food for any signs of things turning rancid but suspect I'm OK here. I feed Avo-Derm and Avo Active Care. The Derm is oven baked powder (fine food bits) in the bottom of the containers is our biggest problem. This reside is always very dry never any sign of grease or lumps in the powder. I've never noticed any unsual odors from the foods.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dester)

[Mack]

I don't use plastic containers for the reasons explained by others below. For some time, I've kept the dog food (I feed Canidae dry) in the original bags in the refrigerator. Yep; I'm single so never need to have my fridge crammed with my food. I removed the bottom meat and vegetable drawers and left that space open for the big bags of dog food. I know that won't work for most folks (my siblings and parents just shake their heads), but it does for me. I buy the 20-pound bag of the regular Canidae and the 15-pound bag of Canidae Platinum for Ivan and keep both in the fridge. It takes about three months to go through both bags, and since this food is preserved naturally it will spoil more quickly if left open (though it's supposed to last 6 months open if kept in dry, cool place).

Anybody else do this?