Iams is the brand name for dog food and cat food manufactured by Procter & Gamble. The Iams Company was acquired by Procter & Gamble in September 1999.
History
Animal nutritionist Paul Iams founded The Iams Company in 1946 in a small feed mill near Dayton, Ohio. Clay Mathile joined Iams in 1970 and purchased the company in 1982. Paul Iams established the company’s nutritional foundation, and Clay Mathile provided the vision to enable The Iams Company to become a world leader in dog and cat nutrition. In September 1999, Jeffrey Ansell became President of The Iams Company following the acquisition of Iams by Procter & Gamble (P&G). In July 2006 Procter & Gamble re-organized the Pet Health & Nutrition division into P&G Pet Care (consisting of the Iams and Eukanuba brands) led by Robert A. Steele [1] and Jeffrey Ansell left P&G to become the CEO of Pinnacle Foods [2].
Animal Welfare Issues
Iams has been criticized by a number of animal rights organizations, notably PETA and In Defense of Animals, for the animal testing that they conduct. PETA alleges that they engage in unnecessary procedures, like debarking of dogs and that their test animals are subjected to poor living conditions. PETA conducted an undercover investigation for nearly 10 months in an Iams contract laboratory. The investigator captured on a hidden camera images of dogs turning around in circles compulsively for hours, dogs with vocal chords severed, dogs with part of their leg muscles hacked out, as well as dogs in severe cold or heat, sick, and an absence of veterinary care for the animals being tested on. Part of this undercover video can be watched here. Iams specifically denies the allegations of debarking, saying "Iams does not authorize the debarking of any dogs" [3] and states that tests they do perform are necessary for research on pet nutrition and allergies. The ASPCA participates on the Iams International Animal Care Advisory Board. This board provides input to the Iams Company on animal research issues. The Iams Company has requested that members of the board conduct unannounced site visits to Iams' research facilities. The ASPCA has information on each of their visits at their site. Both the American Kennel Club [4]and the American Veterinary Medical Association[5] have issued statements supporting the Iams Company.
References
- ^ "P&G Announces Management Changes". Procter & Gamble Website (April 17, 2006) [1]
- ^ "P&G executive to head New Jersey firm". Business Courier of Cincinnati (June 14, 2006)[2]
- ^ Iams Website[3]
- ^ American Kennel Club Website[4]
- ^ American Veterinary Medical Association Website[5]
External links
View More Summaries on Iams
Dayton, Ohio (1946)
10% FY 2006) · Employees: 110,000 · Stock Symbol: NYSE: PG · Website: www.pg.com
