Peer-reviewed evidence
Real ingredient composition
Raw materials vary: in 200 samples of one poultry meal, ash varied by about 20%.
What we do
Formulas use analysed raw-material values, not book values, with specifications for each supplier.
Sourcing & Procurement · Raw Material Specifications & Testing
Raw material specifications and testing, batch by batch.
Specifications written for pet food and incoming-batch testing that checks every delivery against them — so variation is caught before it reaches the line.
What We Do
Raw Material Specifications & Testing services.
Sourcing and procurement for pet food, treat and supplement manufacturers — every ingredient bought to a specification and verified by testing.
Specification writing
Nutrient, physical, microbiological and contaminant limits for each raw material.
Sampling plans
How much to sample, how often and how, matched to the ingredient’s risk.
Incoming batch testing
Proximate, contaminant and identity checks on each delivery or on an agreed frequency.
CoA verification
Supplier certificates checked against independent results.
Trend reporting
Results tracked over time to show supplier drift and seasonal variation.
Non-conformance handling
Clear rules for rejection, concession and supplier corrective action.
Scientific Challenges
What we solve for.
01
Natural variation
Ash, protein and fat vary between batches of rendered meals and by-products.
02
Contaminant co-occurrence
Several mycotoxins often occur together, so single-toxin tests can miss the risk.
03
Heavy metals by ingredient
Fish, minerals and some cereal by-products carry higher heavy-metal levels.
04
Certificates are not proof
A supplier CoA is a claim; independent testing confirms it.
How We Work
From question to evidence.
Review
Ingredients and risks listed.
Specify
Limits written for each material.
Plan
Sampling plan agreed.
Test
Incoming batches analysed.
Decide
Accept, concede or reject.
Trend
Supplier performance reported.
Evidence
The science behind our approach.
Peer-reviewed findings that shape how we design and interpret this work.
Peer-reviewed evidence
Mycotoxins rarely occur alone
A 2026 survey of 126 dog and cat foods found fumonisin B1 in over 94% and more than one mycotoxin in over 92% of products.
What we do
Multi-mycotoxin screening of ingredients and finished product, not single-toxin tests.
Peer-reviewed evidence
Heavy metals vary by format and ingredient
In a 2025 survey of 93 products, 8.6% exceeded lead limits; in another study, ingredients such as wheat bran carried higher metal levels.
What we do
Heavy-metal testing of both raw materials and finished product.
- StudyDu 2025, Sci Rep
- StudyZafalon 2021, Sci Rep
Deliverables
What you take away.
- Raw material specifications for each ingredient
- Sampling plan and acceptance limits
- Incoming batch test results
- Supplier trend reports
- Non-conformance and corrective-action records
Applications
Functional nutrition we build into raw material specifications & testing.
Each application has its own page with the evidence, the actives and the claim boundaries we work within.
Weight Management
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Lighter, more satisfying diets that help pets reach and keep a healthy weight.
Digestive Health
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Firm stools, comfortable digestion and a balanced gut microbiome.
Urinary Health
Urinary Healthimages/pd-wet.jpg · 1200×900
Diets that support a healthy urinary tract.
Skin & Coat
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A healthy skin barrier and a glossy coat, driven by the right balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, protein quality and key micronutrients.
Ingredient science for raw material specifications & testing
Every ingredient we choose for raw material specifications & testing is assessed for nutrient contribution, digestibility, processing behaviour, palatability and the rules in your market — and sourced to your specification.
Ingredientsimages/pd-novel-proteins.jpg · 1600×1200
Insightsimages/article-7.jpg · 1600×1200
Market insights from Guires PNL scientists
Regulation updates, the latest research, recalls and market trends that shape raw material quality — written by our formulation, testing and regulatory teams.
FAQs
Common questions.
Can you test every delivery?
Yes, or on a risk-based frequency agreed with you — high-risk materials are tested more often.
Do you write specifications for existing suppliers?
Yes. We can formalise specifications for materials you already buy and test against them.
Who runs the tests?
Guires Analytical Lab and qualified partner laboratories; our team interprets every result.
Client Testimonials · Sourcing & Procurement
What our clients say.
Clients in the USA, UK and UAE on working with Guires PNL. Names are withheld at clients’ request.
“Finding novel proteins with consistent specifications was holding back our development. Their sourcing team shortlisted qualified suppliers and compared specifications side by side, which made our procurement decisions straightforward.”
“From supplier identification to specification reviews and batch testing, they handled every step of ingredient sourcing. We knew each raw material suited our formulation before placing an order.”
“We needed dependable suppliers of functional ingredients for our pet supplement range. They assessed quality standards, commercial terms and long-term supply options, giving us the full picture before we committed.”
Planning raw material specifications & testing?
Tell us your product, your question and your market — our scientists will come back with a study design and next steps.
FEDIAFAAFCO
Every Guires PNL product is formulated to comply with the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines and the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. Neither body issues certificates to manufacturers, so compliance is verified independently against their published standards — and every product comes with a complete documentation package for regulatory submissions in the EU, US, Australia and Asian markets.
How we verify compliance →