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During the first week of May 2021, I visited every independent pet store in my area twice after two people warned me that changes were afoot with the company. On my second visit to the pet stores, I placed orders for fermented fish stock and kefir. I should have enough to last through 2021 and into 2022.
I spent $1,000 that I couldn't afford and it was probably the best investment I've made this year.
Today, after hearing from several people that the fermented fish stock has changed, I posted a video on TikTok (below) comparing a carton of the fish stock purchased in May 2021 to a carton purchased on July 21, 2021. And it has changed. Now, whether this change is due to a sourcing or processing change at the company or a change to a batch or two, I don't know, but I'm hoping that it's the latter.
Classic Fermented Fish Stock vs “New” Fermented Fish Stock
Someone on YouTube compared the “changes” to when Coca-Cola released “New Coke.” So I'm going to differentiate between the two fish stocks as “classic” and “new.”
Classic Fermented Fish Stock Qualities
- strong odor of fish – when I'm feeding the fish stock, the odor lingers in the room for a short time and I wash the dogs' dishes after they eat.
- a lot of sediment – I shake up the carton before pouring over the food to get all of the yummy goodness.
“New” Fermented Fish Stock Qualities
- faint odor of fish – people are immediately picking up on the faint odor of fish. This is great for people who aren't fans of the fishy odor will love this change (if it's permanent). However, fermented foods are known for their strong scent so I believe that this “new” fermented fish stock is basically fish bone broth with a small amount of fermented fish.
- little sediment – the container I purchased in July 2021 was clear and looked more like chicken stock than the fermented fish stock that I'm used to purchasing.
The color hasn't changed much; the “new” fermented fish stock is slightly paler, but that's it.
Is Answers Pet Food Changing their Food?
I spoke with representatives from Answers Pet Food on Thursday, July 15, 2021, and they assured me that there were no changes to ingredients, sourcing, or processing. I do not think they were misleading me about where the company is today and where it's going.
I'm not going to speculate on what's going on with the fermented fish stock and I did email Answers Pet Food and will update this blog post with their response.
Why the Fermented Fish Stock Looks Different?
While I've never had this experience of seeing such a drastic change in the fermented fish stock. I'm certain that each batch varies, they've all had two characteristics that never changed: the smell and the sediment.
That being said, what are the reasons why the fish stock changed? Please keep in mind that I'm postulating here:
- there may be variation from batch-to batch
- the processing may have been adjusted slightly, but it's still fermented
- the processing may have been adjusted and the fish stock is no longer fermented
- the sourcing of the fish may have changed due to supply-line delays
And, as I was thinking about what could be going on, I wondered if this has something to do with the packaging process. The sediment naturally sinks to the bottom, so imagine a huge stock pot of fish stock – the first few scoops will be clearer if the stock isn't stirred first because the sediment is at the bottom. So, maybe there is a batch of fish stock in a store somewhere that is heavy in sediment and that lovely fish odor we all know and “love.”
Fermented Fish Stock Comparison [Video]
Where I Stand with Answers Pet Food Today
I still think Answers Pet Food is good food and that they are going through changes at the moment. I can't speculate on what those changes involve because I don't work at the company. However, I can share the changes I've noticed in the food I purchased recently:
- Last month, my dogs stopped eating the Answers Detailed Formulas (chicken, turkey, beef, and pork). This was food purchased through the raw food co-op, but I can't recall the order date or expiration date. So Rodrigo and Scout refusing to eat the food does not mean that there is something wrong with the food. They also won't eat uncooked chicken and have turned down other commercial brands in the past. I listen to my dogs and when they refused the food on three separate occasions, I stopped feeding it to them and donated what I had left to rescue.
- A few weeks ago, I noticed that the fermented chicken feet are a little dry. I thought it was just an off batch, but so far three boxes have someone dried chicken feet. The dogs still eat them so I'm not concerned.
If Rodrigo and Scout would eat the food, I'd still adding it to the rotation because of the benefits. I plan to purchase another container of the fish stock in a couple of months to see what it looks (and smells) like, but, for now, I'm glad that I stocked up when I did because I don't know if this new batch of fish stock offers the same benefits.
However, it's still a bone broth – a fish bone broth – so I think there are some benefits, I just don't know if the benefits are the same of if they've changed slightly.
And with the change in the fermented fish stock, I'm going to purchase a container of the kefir and turkey stock to see if there is a noticeable change. I have ordered the Answers Pet Food raw goat's milk in the past, but I don't know if I have any on hand.
Bottom-line is that something may or may not have changed, however, when I thought it through, I found several possible explanations on what I could be witnessing and I did hear from a reader who has experienced this in the past (long before the leadership change) so this isn't unusual to her. It is unusual to me because after years of purchasing fermented fish stock by the case, this is the first time I've seen such a drastic change in a batch so it had me shook.
What Does Answers Pet Food Have to Say?
I spoke with two Answers Pet Food employees via the phone on Friday, July 23, 2021 and they agreed that the color, lack of sediment, and smell is concerning and they are going to check into what's happening with the processing of the fermented fish stock and share what they learn with their customers. They stated that Answers Pet Food hasn't changed sourcing, ingredients, or processing.
I was recently told by someone who works with Answers that they no longer work with the individuals who made the fish stock and the kefir, so APF may no longer offer fish stock and the kefir will change since they’re bringing it in house. The stores in my area have drastically reduced the amount of Answers they stock and that’s a HUGE red flag.
I bought the fish stock in July also. Very clean, not much smell and no sediment. Not happy with it
Hi,
This is so timely. I noticed a difference in the goat milk too. I transfer mine to glass bottle when I defrost it and there are now huge clumps of white stuff formed in jar where before I had sediment so I just shook before use. I will need to find another brand for a while!
I will say that I also considered the fact that “maybe” an ill trained or hurried employee did not actually “stir the pot” before packaging.. The reason I thought this is because, about a year and a half ago, I bought four-quart fish stocks and they all had the same packaging date, and they all were INCREDIBLY stanky, like, triple stanky regular fish stock. And the sediment was THICK, like, I could actually dredge with a spoon and collect “a spoonful of goodness”-albeit stank, stank, stanky-in a great way!
Just my experience to add to your pot of voices.