FAQ

We produce wet food in Bremen (DE), Hattem (NL) and Terre Haute (IN, USA). We have our dry food produced in Blaufelden (DE).

If you would like to keep an eye out for our products, you can simply look at the range of own-brand products in the retail market. If we are not named as the manufacturer, you can check the factory number on the packaging. Our factory numbers on wet food products are DE HB 100004 and NL-08882, and our dry food and snacks are made under reference number DE BW 127001.

We are a manufacturer of private labels on an international scale and we supply chain stores in the food trade as well as drugstores and specialist retailers. The owners of these brands are the trading partners themselves. Please understand that it is therefore not possible to purchase products directly from us. The factory outlet is an exception to this rule.

We regularly offer factory seconds of impeccable quality in our outlet in Bremen. Our outlet opening hours are as follows:

Monday: 13:30 - 16:30
Wednesday: 13:30 - 16:30
Friday: 10:00 - 15:00

We cannot guarantee that the products you require will be in stock on the days when the factory outlet is open. You can call the factory outlet during the opening hours, however, on 0421 5269-360. You can then ask for more information about what is available on that particular day and at what price. We regret that products cannot be held in reserve for you at the factory outlet.

It is very important for us to emphasise that we do not carry out tests on animals.

We only carry out regular feeding tests (tests designed to measure acceptance or preference among animals) in private households. In their familiar home environment, the pets decide which recipe they prefer. Measurements and observations are then scientifically evaluated, providing statistics on the amount eaten, feeding responses and spontaneous preferences, for example, and forming the basis for the constant improvement of our product range.

In addition to the data on the acceptance tests, the pet owners give us valuable tips and comments which we refer to in our work. In this way we can ensure that our products not only provide animals with all the important nutrients for a long and healthy life, but also taste good and foster their well-being.

Yes, because each of our recipes is a complex composition of different raw materials designed to meet the criteria laid down for complete pet food. Our pet food contains all the nutrients required to feed healthy animals and to sustain a good diet without the need for supplements. The criteria which a complete pet food must meet are laid down by the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) in liaison with internationally recognised animal nutrition experts. Regular laboratory analyses are carried out internally and by independent external institutes in order to check and verify compliance with the relevant guidelines.

If grain is contained in the product, it is mentioned in the list of ingredients on the label. Many of our products are made without any added grain. We would like to point out that some products are made with grain in our company and therefore traces may occur in any product.

With a few justified exceptions, our products do not contain any added sugar. In cases where sugar has been added, this is indicated in the list of ingredients under “sugar”.

Please note that some of the raw materials added to the products naturally contain sugar, e.g. fruit. If grain or other raw materials containing starch are used, it will always be possible to detect sugar in an analysis.

Sugar can result from the breakdown of starch in the production process. This also occurs as part of the normal digestion process because only sugar is processed by the body to generate energy. The fact that the starch is broken down to some extent during the production process makes the food easier to digest. The proportion of sugar (sucrose) produced by starch will then be around 2-3 % in the resulting analysis.

Sugar is only used in the form of beet molasses in semi-moist complete pet food (e.g. soft chunks, juicy bites, etc.) to order to retain water. Firstly, this acts as a preservative and, secondly, the food keeps its soft consistency longer due to this water retention and does not dry out too quickly.

Prey animals in the wild also naturally contain residual sugar levels of up to 5 % in analyses of individual organs (liver, kidney and stomach). There is no evidence in the scientific literature of any negative effects of this low sugar content on the health of the animals.

Under the law on animal feed, “meat” includes all parts of the skeletal muscles. Other parts of the animal which are not composed of muscle tissue are referred to as animal by-products. These include innards. As a general principle, we only process raw materials from animals after they have been approved for human consumption by veterinarians.

Products which contain a high proportion of meat composed of muscle tissue are often regarded as “high quality”. It is less well known, however, that organs in particular contain a large number of vital nutrients and are therefore part of a balanced diet. Through the combination of organs, meat composed of muscle tissue, bone, connective tissue and fat, the nutrient intake required by dogs and cats can be covered almost exclusively with natural raw materials.

A diet consisting mainly of meat composed of muscle tissue would very quickly lead to deficiency symptoms. It has been observed in wolves that the organs are eaten first. This is because of the high content of valuable micronutrients and macronutrients in organs. Only then do they start on the meat on the limb muscles. The contents of the stomach are left behind, for example, as are large bones and parts of the skin.

Cats take after their ancestors in terms of their predatory behaviour – they feed on prey. Their teeth and claws are specially designed for hunting and their metabolism has also evolved to process animal protein. In the wild, the prey is eaten with “skin and hair”, i.e. not only the meat, but also the blood, organs, bones and the contents of the stomach and intestines.

Inulin is a prebiotic fibre which is a plant component that is primarily obtained from chicory. Inulin is broken down by the gut bacteria and can therefore have a positive effect on the intestinal flora.

Taurine is an essential amino sulphonic acid for cats and is contained in the natural raw materials in each of our products.

Under the current version of the law on animal feed, it is not a mandatory requirement to specify taurine on the label and it is only listed if requested by the customer.

If a certain component of a product is given special emphasis, the percentage contained in the product must be stated.

So, for example, 4 % poultry means that there is at least 4 % poultry in the product. The total content of meat and animal by-products is higher.

We use raw materials which are fit for human consumption but not intended for it. This is evident in the fact that they rarely feature on our menu.

The raw materials which we use come exclusively from animals which are fit for consumption and approved by veterinarians. Hooves, claws and horns, etc. are not used in the products we make.

The antioxidants ensure that the fats contained in the food, especially the unsaturated fatty acids, do not oxidise and become rancid as a result. This prevents fat degradation.

This is why the use of antioxidants is necessary from our point of view. We are happy to assure you, however, that we do not use synthetic antioxidants.

We use two substances of plant origin as antioxidants. These are tocopherol-rich extracts and propyl gallate.

We do not consider it necessary to add flavour enhancers to our food products because we only use high-quality raw materials to manufacture our products.

The wet food we produce is fully preserved and goes through a sterilisation process. Therefore no further preservatives are required.

Preservatives are used in a few wet products for other technical reasons. In any such cases the preservatives added to the product are declared on the label because this is a legal requirement for the preservatives we use.

Dry food products with a moisture content of more than 12 % usually contain preservatives. This guarantees a longer shelf life.

Preservatives prevent goods with a relatively high moisture content from perishing/going mouldy. We use feed additives which are approved under European law for this purpose where necessary. Both substances are harmless to humans and animals and are therefore very suitable for use.

Palm oil is not added to any of our products.

saturn petcare gmbh has a very strict policy on soya.

We do not use soya in our products as a general rule in order to avoid contamination with GM soybeans. However, we cannot prevent trace levels of contamination from upstream processes (farming, supply trade, agricultural trade) and so we cannot rule out these unintended effects with absolute certainty.

Our wet food is fully preserved, having undergone a sterilisation process which totally destroys any microorganisms which are present. This prevents spoilage of the product in an unopened tin which duly bears a best-before date.

There is no hard and fast rule on the shelf life of a product in an open tin because it will depend on the number and type of bacteria in the environment (e.g. on the utensils used to take the product out of the tin). It can be stored in the refrigerator for two days in our experience but this may vary. Please always remember to use clean cutlery when removing the food.

The unfilled space in the packs, or “head space” as it is called, is required for technical reasons and therefore cannot be filled. Depending on the way in which the ingredients are baked, the croquettes can vary in size, i.e. the volume may differ but the weight is the same. This characteristic depends on many factors and can vary from one batch to another.

The volume of the packaging has been calculated in order to be able to react to these natural fluctuations and always pack the right weight. The air must also be able to escape during the filling process without causing the pack to burst. It must then be securely closed, therefore the product should not be trapped in the seal and the pack should not leak, e.g. because it is too full. For this reason, our filling machine needs an unfilled space at the top of the bag.

We are constantly working on possible improvements to the processes because we are trying to reduce the amount of packaging material we use.

Puppies require a different nutrient intake from adult dogs as they go through the growth phase. The levels of energy required by puppies and young dogs are higher than in adult animals.

Deciding when this phase is over and moving to an adult diet will depend on the breed of dog. It is not possible to make a blanket statement because the growth phase can last up to three years in large breeds, for example, while some small breeds can be fully grown in around 10 months.

We therefore recommend feeding puppies and young dogs on food specially formulated for their age group until the end of the growth phase.

Kittens require a different nutrient intake from fully grown cats. The levels of energy required by kittens and young cats are higher than in adult animals.

We therefore recommend feeding kittens and young cats on food specially formulated for their age group until the end of the growth phase.

The time of reaching seniority will depend on the breed and will differ in each individual case. As long as your dog is not showing any signs of ageing, there will be no need to switch to senior dog food.

The main differences between adult and senior food are the energy density and protein quality. The amount of energy required by a dog may decrease in old age and therefore the diet should be duly adjusted in order to avoid obesity, for example. of ageing, there will be no need to switch to senior dog food.

Please consult your veterinarian for an assessment of the physical condition of your dog.

The feeding recommendations we provide on the packaging have been scientifically calculated and will help you to choose the right amount of food for your dog. Please note that feeding recommendations may vary depending on other factors such as the age of the animal and its breed, housing conditions, activity level and the condition of the animal.

We recommend trying out different amounts of food as may be required by your pet or consulting your veterinarian.

Dogs are descended from wolves which mainly lived on prey. Their digestive system has changed over time as wolves have increasingly evolved into domestic pets and has adapted very well to grain. This has been scientifically confirmed by studies comparing the DNA of dogs and wolves.

Cats can easily digest grain which has undergone thermal and mechanical treatment. Scientific studies show that diets with more than 40 % digestible carbohydrates (e.g. from grain) agree with cats.