The Impact of Education on Students' Understanding of the Pet Food Industry
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Numerous misconceptions circulate within the pet food industry, with a notable lack of scholarly literature supporting them. These misconceptions significantly impact consumer decisions regarding pet nutrition. With the rise of social media and increased reliance on online sources, misinformation has become more widespread, frequently presenting biased perspectives on specific feeding practices. While the Internet can offer valuable insights into pets' nutritional needs, the quality of information is highly variable, making it challenging for consumers to discern accurate from misleading content. To address this issue, I designed and facilitated a senior animal science course at Cornell University (ANSC 4290/6290) in the Spring 2024 semester, aimed at educating students on common misconceptions within the pet food industry. The course covered topics such as pet food safety, the role of the rendering industry in pet nutrition, and the feasibility of vegan diets for dogs. This study assesses the impact of the course on students' perceptions through pre- and post-lecture surveys, focusing on topics where misunderstandings frequently arise. Results suggest that the course effectively improved students' understanding of complex issues in pet nutrition, highlighting the importance of targeted education in mitigating misinformation. As studies examining consumer perceptions of the pet food industry are limited, it is challenging to quantify the extent of misinformation and its impact on consumers. Therefore, this research not only contributes to enhancing public education but also helps quantify the level of misinformation present in the industry.