Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose Barley's ethical and sustainable dog kibbles ?
Barley’s is one of the most innovative and ecological pet food on the european market. We aim for a balanced and delicious food for all size and age dogs without impacting negatively the planet ressources. You could even say we are the leading experts in sourcing sustainable ingredients, like our insects and our upcycled spent grain. Insect protein is hypoallergenic and great for pets with any meat related food allergies or intolerances making it digestible while nutritious.
Our kibbles are also great for the environment, in comparison to traditional meat-based pet foods, our insects use a lot less water, land and CO2 which reduces your pets carbon pawprint !
Dogs are not vegan ! By using cruelty-free proteins from insects we avoid the exploitation of farm animals for dog feeding.
By upcycling the brewer’s spent grain we definitly take a further step helping the planet while giving extra nutrients to our beloved dogs.
Our kibbles are produced in a GMP+ FSA facility wich assures a highest food security and quality for our kibbles.
Where do our mealworms come from ?
Our nutritious and delicious insects come from an insect farm in The Netherlands. It is one of the most ethical insect farm who have high animal welfare standards. It is transparent so we know our products down to farm level.
Where do our spent grain comes from ?
Our spent grain comes from several breweries in Belgium
Where do our ingredients come from ?
Most of our ingredients are farmed in the Netherlands and Belgium. We aim at purchasing local products as much as possible.
How do you know that it is the right product ? Do you do animal testing ?
We have not used any harmful chemicals or substances on and for dogs in the making of Barley’s kibbles. We work closely with several qualified nutritional consultants, an in-house specialist Dr. … and we make sure that the final composition has the right balance of all nutrients needed for a healthy dog. Of course we tried the kibbles with various dogs before the foods becomes commercially available. We aim at the maximum benefit to your pet.
Do you add artificial flavor or sugar ?
NO we do not add artificial preservatives. Some of our raw materials, such as vitamins and oils, are protected from oxidation by natural preservatives. The only preservatives that can be found in our recipes are antioxidants from our ingredients. Essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 and omega 6, are subject to natural oxidation: not preserving them from this phenomenon could be harmful to the body.
In our recipe carrots, cranberries, coconut oil, nettles, seaweed and parsley are natural anti-oxydant.
Do you use GMO ingredients ?
No ! Our ingredients are Non-GMO
Is Barley's recipe grain free and gluten free ?
Barley’s contains a variety of ancient grain like sorghum and barley’s spent grain. The reason why we choose these two ingredients is for their high-quality nutrition and low environnemental impact.
Spent grain is mainly made of malted barley, it is considered an ancient grain with a different gluten than in wheat. There are small traces of gluten in our recipe, it is very unlikely to cause allergies. The main cause of allergies in dogs are from meat protein not from gluten.
Is there palm oil in Barley's kibbles ?
No, none of our food or treats have palm oil in them. We have tried making our product as sustainable and nutritious as it gets.
What is Ash ? Do you add ashes to dog food ?
Ash is only an analytical element in the composition of the kibble: it is what remains after the kibble has been cooked. It consists largely of minerals that are essential for the dog.
No ash is added to the kibble !
Do vet approved of insect protein and spent grain in a dog food ?
Why wouldn’t they ?
The important thing is that we feed all animals with a balanced and healthy diet.
Spent grain is nutricious and brings soluble fibers and nutrients needed by dogs.
Insect protein offers a sensible alternative to owners who want to offer a ‘livestock-free’ diet to their pets.
Is this a complete dog food ?
Yes! Our food is nutritionally complete for all breeds of adult dog.
What is cold press ?
Our ingredients are mixed together before being pressed under low temperatures for a very short time.
Unlike baked foods, cold-pressed food releases nutrients more slowly. It helps to preserve the nutritional value and protein as well as boosting digestibility.
Where are your recipes prepared and produced ?
Our recipes are developed in Belgium and produced in the south of The Netherlands in a GMP+FSA certified kitchen, in partnership with animal nutrition experts and our in house specialist.
What is GMP+FSA ?
Our place of production has a GMP+ FSA certification that insure that all the food process during production has a high quality standard therefore our petfood is of the best quality.
How are Barley's recipes different from other ?
Our recipes are natural and made with simple, high quality ingredients to lessen our negative impact on the planet. They are made with insects, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. As an added bonus, all our recipes are protein-rich, contain only one source of animal protein and contain ancient grain, limiting the risk of allergy and facilitating digestion for our most sensitive pets.
Healthier dogs are more happy on a greener planet !
NUTRITION
Why do we use barley's spent grain ?
Barley’s spent grain is considered a rich source of fiber, protein, and phenolic compounds.low in saturated fat, starches, calories and cholesterol. It has a high protein content, has no added sugar and contains soluble fibers.
The phenolic acids present in Barley’s spent grain are hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic, p-coumaric, and caffeic acids), which have many biofunctions, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities.
Why do we use insects ?
Mealworms contain high quality protein, vitamins and amino acid. The health benefits of mealworms equate to that of meat or fish. They contain monounsaturated fats and omega 3 fatty acids which are essential parts of a healthy, balanced diet.
The risks of insects passing pathogenic microbes to dogs is considered to be very low, at least compared to meat and poultry, which can carry pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella and those related to bird flu and mad cow disease.
Why do we use Potatoes, Sorghum and sweet potatoes ?
The potato we use is one of the most environmentally friendly crops. They’re rich in phytonutrients, fibre, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, potassium, iron, magnesium, and many other nutrients and an easily digested carbohydrate.
Sorghum is known to be rich in phenolic compounds, many of which act as antioxidants. It is nutrient-packed grain. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, magnesium, iron and Potassium.
Sweet potatoes contain vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron, among other nutrients.
Why do we use beer yeast ?
There are a ton of antioxidants inside brewer’s yeast, including the all-important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These contribute to a shiny, lustrous coat, while the B vitamins also help keep your dog’s hair strong and less prone to breaking or falling out.
What about allergies ? What is mono-protein ?
Food allergies manifest themselves in two forms that can be combined: skin problems and digestive problems.
Our food doesn’t contain any of the top allergies found in dogs. It is truly one of the most hypoallergenic foods on the market.
Our recipes for adult dogs and cats contain only one source of high quality animal protein therefore they are mono-protein, which limits the risk of allergy and is suitable for the most sensitive animals.
FEEDING GUIDELINES
How much kibbles sould I feed my dog daily ?
Every dog’s appetite is different depending upon size, age, condition and level of activity. Please adjust the amount given to keep your dog in a lean, active condition. Always ensure clean drinking water is available.
If your dog looks overweight reduce the current food intake by 10%.
If your dog looks underweight increase the current food intake by 10%.
|
Dog’s weight (kg) |
Recommended daily allowances per g |
|
2 – 5 |
60 – 120 |
|
5 – 10 |
120 – 180 |
|
10 – 20 |
180 – 300 |
|
20 – 30 |
300 – 410 |
|
30 – 40 |
410 – 510 |
|
40 – 60 |
510 – 600 |
|
60 – 80 |
600 – 750 |
How do I make the transition to Barley's kibbles ?
The change in your pet’s diet is made gradually over a period of 5 to 7 days. This will allow your pet’s digestive system to get used to the new food gently. We advise you to start by mixing his food with a small quantity of Barley’s kibbles and gradually increase the dose until the change is complete.
SHIPPING DELIVERY PAIEMENT
Where do you deliver ?
We deliver throughout Belgium, The Netherlands and France via Bpost. Orders are shipped same day if your order is placed on a weekday before 1pm (subject to stock availability). Bank holidays and Weekend delivery options are not available as we are a small company and need the WE break to insure the best working condition for our team members.
How much cost delivery ?
While ordering online a Bpost window will give you all the prices and possible option of deliveries. It is determined by weight and country. For big deliveries over 25 kg please contact us at info@barleysdogfood.com directly so that we can arrange delivery ourselves at a better rate.
From which country will my order be shipped?
Your order will be shipped from our warehouse in Belgium.
How to return a package ?
If you wish to return your order, you can request a pre-paid return label from our support team: info@barleysdogfood.com within 14 days as of reception of the package.
Return your order to a Bpost point within 7 days of receiving the return label in its original unopened condition.
Please allow 14 days for returns to be inspected and reflected on your statement.
Can I return my delivery if the dog doesn't like it ?
Unfortunately if the package is open we can’t take it back. If your pet doesn’t like Barley’s dog food you can keep the bag to give to a friend or animal shelter instead of returning to us wich has a bad impact for the planet. To try our product it is best to buy one of our test package of 100 g or 200 g first.
Return shipping costs ?
The cost of return shipping will be automatically deducted from your refund unless stated otherwise.
What payment methods are accepted ?
We accept payment by Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, Bancontact, Carte Bleue and Paypal.
Who is processing paiement ? Is it secure ?
Yes, we are using Mollie a secure online solution. Actually it is the most used online payment method in the Netherlands.
SOURCES
Scientific literature on insect proteins in dog food :
Protein quality of insects as potential ingredients for dog and cat foods, 2014, Guido Bosch, Sheng Zhang, Dennis G. A. B. Oonincx and Wouter H. Hendriks
Impact of insects on the environment:
Datas are based on research done by Deutsche Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik – 2018
Barley's spent grain properties :
“Composition and Nutrient Value Proposition of Brewers Spent Grain” published in the October 2017 issue of the Journal of Food Science