(photo courtesy of morguefile.com)

The outbreak of widespread and lethal poisoning from pet food has a lot of people looking for safer alternatives. Many have joined the ranks of those who prepare meals for their pets themselves, a practice once seen as a little eccentric.

At specialty food shows we've seen a trend toward fancier & healthier pet food that has been underway for some time. In 2005, organic pet food sales reached $30 million, according to the Organic Trade Association. That was up 46% from 2004, but a small part of the $16.1 billion Americans are expected to spend on feeding their pets in 2007. Still, there are small specialty firms that make organic, vegetarian and even low-carb pet food selling for premium prices. Some of them are making pretty good money doing it!

To read an article on pet food entrepreneurs in Business Week go to: A Growing Appetite for Healthy Pet Food

To read an article from the New York Times on home cooking for pets go to: "Home Cooking for Pets Is Suddenly Not So Odd